Box Score (.pdf)

Photo Credit: Carin Goodall-Gosnell/PortraitsByCarin.com

Spartanburg, S.C. – Anda Kuzmina led a trio of USC Upstate players in double-figures with 12 points as the Spartans defeated South Carolina State 63-44 in non-conference action at the Hodge Center on Saturday afternoon. 

Upstate improves to 3-8 while South Carolina State drops to 2-4. 

A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

• In addition to Kuzmina, Rylie Parkhurst (11 points) and Brittney Delva (10 points) finished in double-figures.
• Delva had a game-high five steals.
• Riley Popplewell just missed a double-double as she scored nine points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
• Popplewell's 11 rebounds are tied for the most by a Spartan in a single game this season.
• Kemoni Jenkins and Kyesha Lewis each scored 10 points to lead South Carolina State.
• Dashanique Peterson led the Lady Bulldogs with nine rebounds.
• Upstate forced 28 South Carolina State turnovers and scored 25 points off of those turnovers.
• The Spartans finished 23-for-64 (35.9 percent) from the field.
• South Carolina State went 19-for-60 (31.7 percent) from the field.

FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN

• Upstate opened the game on a 9-0 run capped by a Popplewell layup at the 6:11 mark.
• A Peterson layup brought the Lady Bulldogs within six, 10-4, with 2:16 to play.
• 3-pointers by Parkhurst and Camilla Kilinc on consecutive possessions gave the Spartans a 16-4 lead with just over a minute remaining.
• Upstate led 18-7 at the end of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN

• The Spartans opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run as they led 25-7 with just under five minutes remaining.
• A layup by Morgan Williams gave the Spartans a 27-7 lead, their largest of the first half, with 4:45 to play.
• The Lady Bulldogs pulled within 14, 28-14, on layups by Jenkins and Peterson at the 1:54 mark.
• Upstate led 33-16 at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN

• A Bryeasha Blair 3-pointer brought South Carolina State within 16, 39-23, with 6:40 remaining.
• The Spartans answered with an 11-0 run capped by the second of two Popplewell free throw attempts for a 50-23 lead with 3:24 left.
• South Carolina State closed the frame on a 9-0 run with Upstate holding a 50-32 lead at the end of the frame.

FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN

• Delva opened the scoring in the fourth quarter as she completed the three-point play 16 seconds into the frame.
• A Delva 3-pointer at the 9:00 mark gave the Spartans a 56-32 lead, their largest of the quarter.
• Chantel Williams' layup made the score 58-40 with 2:44 remaining.
• A pair of Jenkins free throws with 16 seconds left were the final points of the contest.

UP NEXT

• Upstate is off until Dec. 16 when it hosts UNC Asheville. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.

Follow Upstate women's basketball on Facebook (UpstateAthletics), Twitter (@UpstateWB), Instagram (@upstatespartans), YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics) and text/e-mail alerts (www.upstatespartans.com/list-signup).