Spartans Set for Big Ten Road Trip
11/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Purdue Game Notes (.pdf)
Illinois Game Notes (.pdf)
Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's basketball team will hit the road this weekend for a pair of games against Big Ten Conference opponents. The Spartans will play Purdue at 7 p.m. on Thursday before a 1 p.m. Eastern contest at Illinois on Sunday.
Upstate is 2-0 following a 93-35 victory over Converse on Friday and a 55-48 triumph at Presbyterian College on Monday. Senior Raven Jefferson leads the team averaging 14.5 points per game. Jefferson, Vanessa Agrusa, Tamera Thorpe and Riley Popplewell have each finished in double figures in both games this season. Popplewell leads the team with an average of 7.0 rebounds per game.
Purdue is 0-2 after losing to Maine and Villanova at the University of Maine Tip Off Tournament. Dominique Oden and Ashley Morrissette are both averaging 11.5 points per game. Dominque McBryde is the leading rebounder with 6.0 rebounds per game. Sharon Versyp is in her 11th season behind the bench and is 214-122 at Purdue. The Boilermakers won the lone previous meeting 82-47 on Nov. 10, 2012.
Illinois is 1-1 heading into a Thursday afternoon contest against Memphis. Alex Wittinger leads the Fighting Illini with an average of 19.0 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. Illinois is under the direction of Matt Bollant, who is 53-73 in five seasons. Sunday will be the first meeting between the schools.
Fans can follow the action for both games on live stats via links on www.upstatespartans.com. Thursday's game at Purdue will be streamed on BTN Plus with free audio available on www.purduesports.com. Sunday's game will be streamed on www.fightingillini.com.
The Spartans return to the Hodge Center for a three-game Thanksgiving homestand next week. Upstate will host William & Mary on Tuesday before facing Warren Wilson on Wednesday and Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
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