George Wins 200th Career Game as Spartans Defeat Converse in Season Opener
11/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Spartanburg, S.C. – USC Upstate head coach Tammy George earned her 200th career win on Friday as the Spartans defeated Converse College 93-35 in the 2016-17 season opener at the Hodge Center.
Upstate improves to 1-0. The game was designated as an exhibition for Converse.
Vanessa Agrusa led Upstate with 16 points as five Spartans finished in double figures. Brittney Delva led the Spartans with seven rebounds.
Game Breakdown
- Upstate opened the game on a 19-2 run and led 29-5 at the end of the first quarter. Upstate was 12-for-20 (60%) from the field in the first quarter.
- The Spartans led 54-14 at halftime as the Valkyries didn't reach double figures until the 3:12 mark of the second quarter.
- Converse opened the third quarter with a Jada Black jumper as the Valkyries twice cut the Spartan lead to 38. Upstate outscored Converse 19-13 in the period.
- Riley Popplewell hit a pair of free throws with 8:01 to play in the fourth quarter to give the Spartans a 50-point advantage, 80-30. Agrusa scored the game's final points with a 3-pointer with 56 seconds remaining.
By the Numbers
- Five Spartans finished in double figures, led by a career-high 16 points by Agrusa. Raven Jefferson (14), Tamera Thorpe (13), Coco Ritter (12) and Riley Popplewell (10) also finished in double digits.
- Agrusa made a career-best four 3-pointers.
- Ritter's 12 points were a career-best.
- Delva led the Spartans with seven rebounds with five of them coming on the defensive glass.
- Thorpe dished out a career-high five assists. Delva and Jefferson each finished with four assists.
- All 10 Upstate players who played in the game scored at least one point.
- The Upstate bench outscored the Converse reserves 37-17.
- Upstate scored 41 points off of 32 Valkyries turnovers and held a 40-12 advantage in points in the paint.
Up Next
- Upstate opens the road portion of the 2016-17 schedule on Monday as the Spartans travel to Presbyterian College for a 7 p.m. contest.
No videos available.
