Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – A late rally by the USC Upstate women's basketball team fell short as the Spartans lost to UNC Asheville 70-59 in the Hodge Center on Saturday afternoon.  

UNC Asheville improves to 6-2 while Upstate drops to 5-8.

Raven Jefferson led the Spartans with 18 points. Brittney Delva added a career-high 13 points followed by Tamera Thorpe with 10 points. Vanessa Agrusa pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds along with three assists and three steals.  

Chatori Major scored 19 points to lead UNC Asheville. Tianna Knuckles added 17 points while Khaila Webb scored 10 points. Bronaza Fitzgerald pulled down seven rebounds.  

Game Breakdown

• Major opened the game with a 3-pointer before Riley Popplewell gave Upstate a 4-3 advantage on a jumper with 7:37 to go. A Swain layup at the 4:51 mark gave the Spartans a 10-6 lead before the Bulldogs claimed a 13-12 lead on a Knuckles jumper with 45 seconds to play in the frame. Jefferson's 3-pointer with 32 seconds left gave Upstate a 15-13 lead at the end of the quarter. The first quarter featured three lead changes and one tie.
• The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead on a Ja'Da Brayboy layup with 8:13 to play in the second quarter. UNC Asheville went on a 7-0 run for a half-best 38-27 lead before Thorpe completed a three-point lead to cut the Spartan deficit to eight. UNC Asheville led 40-30 at halftime.
• UNC Asheville opened the second half with consecutive baskets before Jefferson completed the three-point play at the 7:26 mark to make the score 44-33 in favor the Bulldogs. UNC Asheville led 58-41 at the end of the period.
• The Bulldogs led 64-46 at the fourth quarter media timeout with 4:37 left. Upstate began its comeback with a Thorpe free throw with 3:55 remaining. After Major scored the final field goal for the Bulldogs with 2:28 to play giving the visitors a 66-51 edge, Upstate pulled to within seven, 66-59, following a DeNisha Swain layup with 12 seconds to go. The Spartans would get no closer as Major sank four free throws in the final 13 seconds to seal the win.

By the Numbers

• UNC Asheville finished 28-for-57 (49.1 percent) from the field while Upstate was 23-for-59 (39.0 percent).
• UNC Asheville shot 46.7 percent from behind the 3-point line while Upstate finished 25 percent.
• UNC Asheville scored a game-high 27 points in the second quarter. Upstate outscored the Bulldogs 18-12 in the fourth quarter.
• Upstate committed a season-high 19 turnovers which resulted in 24 UNC Asheville points. UNC Asheville turned the ball over 18 times leading to 13 Spartan points.
• Upstate's bench players outscored the UNC Asheville reserves 19-18.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded Upstate 35-33.

Up Next

• Upstate returns to action on Dec. 30 in the Hodge Center against Maryland Eastern Shore. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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