SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's basketball team fed the front court tonight as post players accounted for 32 of the teams 58 points in a 58-47 win over South Carolina State on Saturday night at the Eddie and Ann Payne Arena inside the G.B. Hodge Center.
 
USC Upstate (4-4, 0-0 Big South) started the game on a 7-2 run but S.C. State (1-9, 0-0 MEAC) responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead with 2:58 remaining in the opening frame. The Bulldogs would never lead again as Quadijah Moore (Greenwood, S.C.) stole the ball from Olivia Gabriel and passed it ahead to Brianna Lewis (Chicago, Ill.) for the go-ahead layup. By the end of the first quarter the Spartans led 17-10.
 
In the first five minutes of the second quarter the two teams traded baskets until the media timeout. With 2:50 remaining in the half Moore knocked down a pair of free throws to give USC Upstate a 10-point advantage. Moments later Anda Kuzmina (Riga, Lativa) connected on a three-point attempt at the top of the arch to extend the Spartans lead. A Riley Popplewell (Union Mills, Ind.) layup with 15 seconds to go in the half gave USC Upstate a 34-19 advantage.
 
Moore ended the first half leading all scorers with 11-points and 6-rebounds. Lewis contributed 8-points in the opening half of play.
 
For the majority of the third quarter the Spartans held a minimum 12-point lead. USC Upstate's largest lead of the game came with a minute to go in the third period, Lewis knockdown a step-back jumper giving the Spartans a 19-point edge. Going into the final quarter of play USC Upstate held a 46-33 lead over S.C. State.
 
Give credit to the Bulldogs offense for not backing down. With 6:18 remaining in the game S.C. State had chipped away at the Spartans lead and only trailed by 9. Down the stretch the Spartans offense answered when they needed to keep ahead of S.C. State. Popllewell scored the final USC Upstate basket with 58 seconds to go in the game as the Spartans sealed an 11-point victory over S.C. State.  

Notes
Upstate- The win snaps a three-game losing skid for the Spartans and USC Upstate remains undefeated at home on the season.
 
Barrett Herring (Birmingham, Ala.) made her second career start tonight for USC Upstate. The sophomore center set new career highs in points (9), rebounds (6), blocks (3), field goals made (4), field goals attempted (6) and minutes played (17).
 
Quadijah Moore led all scorers with 17 points and she hauled in a team high 7 rebounds on the night. Moore set a new career high in free throws made (11) and free throws attempted (12).
Briana Lewis was the only other Spartans to reach double-figures on the night with 12 points. Lewis once again led the team in assists with 4 on the night.
 
S.C. State – Although they did not win many statistical categories on Saturday night the Bulldogs edged out the Spartans 13-12 in fast break points.
 
Jael Jackson led the team with 11 points while Heniaya Moton added 10 points in the loss. Jacquece Alston led both teams with 9 rebounds and four steals on the night.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will be back at home this Thursday, December 19 vs Bob Jones, 6:00 p.m. G.B. Hodge Center. Fans are encouraged to wear an ugly Christmas sweater to the game.

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