Thursday's matchUP
January 9, 6:00 pm

Upstate (6-7, 1-3 Big South) VS Winthrop University (5-7, 2-1 Big South),
Eddie and Ann Payne Arena inside the G.B. Hodge Center

TV: ESPN+ (online only)

Series History
This is the 17th all-time meeting between Winthrop and USC Upstate, dating back to 1977. The Eagles hold a 10-7 advantage overall in the series, but since their transition to Division I in 2007, the Spartans are 2-1 against Winthrop. USC Upstate swept the season series last year, and the Eagles will be looking for their first win against the Spartans since 2008 and their first win in Spartanburg since 1985.

The last time USC Upstate traveled to Rock Hill was January 10, 2019 when the Spartans secured a 76-50 win. Senior guard DeNisha Swain dropped a career-high 33 points alongside six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Anda Kuzmina and Michaela Gibbons each hit double-figures as well with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Jah'che Whitfield led Winthrop with 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven steals. The game proved to be USC Upstate's first ever Big South Conference victory after making the switch from the Atlantic Sun Conference that year.

The most recent meeting between the two teams was a 58-49 home victory for the Spartans on February 26, 2019 to snap a seven game losing streak. Kuzmina set a career-high 16 points and eight rebounds while Riley Popplewell also had eight rebounds and Swain led with five assists. The Spartans had 17 steals and forced 25 Winthrop turnovers in the contest.

Last time out
UPSTATE – USC Upstate is coming off a 68-48 loss to UNC Asheville Monday evening, the team's first home loss of the season. Barrett Herring and Jada Logan both notched career-highs as Herring posted a team-high 17 points and Logan collected 11 rebounds. Popplewell led the Spartans with 13 rebounds, and Gibbons contributed a career-high four assists.

Winthrop – The Eagles are coming off a 71-59 loss to Gardner-Webb Monday evening, and will be looking for their first road conference win of the season. Destinee Jamison-Whitfield led Winthrop with 23 points. Anika Riley also scored in double-figures with 10 points and collected six boards to hit the 500 career rebounds milestone.

Ones to watch
UPSTATE – Herring is coming off a career night, and based on averages, is the team's third leading scorer with 7.2 points per game. Quadijah Moore is second with 109 total points and 8.4 points per game. Both Herring and Moore are averaging just over a block per game. Popplewell is USC Upstate's leading rebounder averaging 7.1 boards per game.

Winthrop - Jamison-Whitfield is Winthrop's leading scorer with 111 total points averaging 12.3 points per game. Riley is averaging 7.0 rebounds per game, and Miquela Santoro is picking up 2.6 assists per game.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans next home game will be against Longwood on Saturday, January 11, 2020. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. inside the G.B. Hodge Center.

Tickets
Start at $8.00 (adults), $5.00 (ages 3-17); 864-503-7190 and upstatespartans.com/tickets.

Keep UP with the Spartans
Facebook (UpstateAthletics)
Twitter (@UpstateWB)
Instagram (@upstatespartans)
YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics)