McKinley Brooks-Sumpter
54
USC Upstate UPST 2-4,0-1 Big Sout
59
Winner Winthrop WIN 2-2,1-0 Big Sout
USC Upstate UPST
2-4,0-1 Big Sout
54
Final
59
Winthrop WIN
2-2,1-0 Big Sout
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
USC Upstate UPST 26 28 0 0 54
Winthrop WIN 22 37 0 0 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Spartans Come Up Short in Conference Opener

ROCK HILL, S.C. – It came down to the final minutes of the contest, but USC Upstate women's basketball ultimately fell just short of victory in the Big South Conference opener Thursday night at Winthrop Coliseum. The Spartans dropped game one of the back-to-back series against the Eagles 59-54.

The Spartans and Eagles spent the first two periods trading baskets as neither team ever led by more than four points in a half that saw five ties. Upstate held Winthrop scoreless from the field in the last 8:23 of the second quarter and ended the frame on a 9-1 run to enter halftime with a 26-22 lead.

The Spartans jumped out to a five-point lead in the first minute of the third period on a fastbreak layup from Molly Coleman that made it 28-23. The back-and-forth play continued until Michaela Gibbons gave Upstate its largest advantage of the night with a triple for a 36-29 lead with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter.

The Eagles chipped away at their deficit before taking a one-point lead at 49-48 with 4:57 left in the final frame, their first lead in the game since midway through the second period. McCaughan knotted things back up at 51-all with a 3-pointer with 3:19 to go in the fourth period, but Winthrop retook the lead a minute later and took advantage of free throws down the final stretch to overcome Upstate for the win.

Notes

  • Upstate outshot Winthrop 37.3 percent to 36.2 percent from the field in the contest.
  • Freshman McKinley Brooks-Sumpter notched her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 boards.
  • Freshman Dakota McCaughan connected for three baskets beyond the arc and ended the night with 10 points alongside four rebounds and three assists.
  • Sophomore Lillian Flantos made her first career start and had six points with a pair of rebounds and an assist.
  • Sophomore Jada Logan made her first appearance of the season and had two points and an assist.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will try to split the series with the Eagles tomorrow, Dec. 18, in game two of the back-to-back. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. from Winthrop Coliseum.

Keep UP with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateWBB @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateWBB @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans

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