Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's basketball team had four starters finish in double figures as the Spartans defeated NJIT 75-58 in the ASUN opener for both teams at the Hodge Center on Saturday.

Upstate evens its record at 8-8 and is 1-0 in league play while NJIT drops to 7-9 and 0-1.

Raven Jefferson led the Spartans with 18 points. Riley Popplewell recorded her second double-double of the season with a career-high 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Brittney Delva scored a career-best 14 points while Bailey Wensler added 12 points. Wensler tied a career-high with four 3-pointers.

Tatianna Torres led NJIT with 14 points, followed by Alana Dudley with 12 and Leah Horton with 11. Danielle Tunstall grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Highlanders.

Game Breakdown

• Dudley opened the game with a 3-pointer before a 9-0 Upstate run following a Vanessa Agrusa jumper gave the Spartans a 9-3 lead with 6:40 to go in the first quarter. NJIT claimed a 10-9 lead following a pair of Torres free throws at the 5:03 mark before Upstate reclaimed the lead on a Tamera Thorpe jumper. After Dudley tied the game at 14 with 2:46 to play in the period, Upstate went on a 7-0 run to lead 21-14 after the opening quarter. The first quarter featured all five lead changes in the contest.
• Wensler's 3-pointer with 8:17 to play in the second quarter gave the hosts a 24-14 lead. NJIT cut the Upstate advantage to six, 24-18, before a 6-0 run capped by a Popplewell layup gave the Spartans a 30-18 lead with 4:22 to go in the period. Upstate led 33-26 at halftime as both teams scored 12 points in the quarter.
• After a Wensler 3-pointer gave the Spartans a 42-35 lead with 5:56 to play in the third quarter, NJIT went on an 8-1 run as a Dudley jumper tied the game at 43 with 1:46 remaining. Popplewell gave the Spartans the lead on their next possession and Upstate made four free throws in the final 42 seconds to lead 49-43.
• Torres brought the Highlanders with within four, 49-45, with 9:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. Following a Torres layup that made the score 54-47 Upstate with 7:28 to go, the Spartans went on a 9-0 run capped by a DeNisha Swain 3-pointer to lead 63-47 with 5:39 to play. The Spartans would lead by as many as 21 points down the stretch as NJIT got no closer than 13 points.  

By the Numbers

• The Spartans were 9-for-12 (75 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter.
• Upstate made a season-high 11 3-point attempts as the Spartans finished 11-for-23 (47.8 percent) behind the arc.
• NJIT held a 36-35 edge in rebounds.
• The Spartans took advantage of 23 NJIT turnovers which resulted in 32 points. Upstate had 18 turnovers resulting in 14 points.
• Both teams took advantage of their free throw opportunities. NJIT was 10-fo-11 (90.9 percent) from the free throw line while Upstate went 16-for-20 (80.0 percent).  
• Upstate had six blocked shots, tying a season high.
• The score was tied three times with five lead changes.

Up Next

• Upstate remains at the Hodge Center against Jacksonville at 4:30 p.m. next Saturday. 

Follow Upstate women's basketball on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.