Saturday's matchUP
February 29, 2:00 pm

USC Upstate (8-18, 3-14 Big South) VS Gardner-Webb University (16-11, 11-7 Big South)
Eddie and Ann Payne Arena inside the G.B. Hodge Center

TV: ESPN+  (Online and the ESPN app)
PXP: Matt Stradley
Color: Brendan Boylan

Tickets: Start at $8.00 (adults), $5.00 (ages 3-17); 864-503-7190 or BUY HERE.

Senior Day
The Spartans will be honoring their five senior members and their senior manager in a pregame ceremony at midcourt. Those being recognized include Brianna Lewis, Breanna Jefferson, Rylie Parkhurst, Natalia Panufnik and Riley Popplewell along with manager, Bryana Anderson.

Series History
This is the eighth all-time meeting between the Spartans and Runnin' Bulldogs. Upstate will be looking for their first ever win against Gardner-Webb, as the Bulldogs lead 7-0 in the series.

In the previous meeting between the two teams this season, three Spartans hit double-figures and Barrett Herring made it five consecutive games with a career-high, but USC Upstate ultimately fell 63-53 to Gardner-Webb inside Paul Porter Arena on January 18. Herring hit a career-high with a game-high 18 points. She also had seven rebounds, two steals, and a pair of blocks. Gibbons also scored in double-figures with 10 points. Popplewell pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and was one point away from her 11th career double-double with nine points. Breanna Jefferson contributed four assists, and the Spartans outshot the Bulldogs from the field at 37.5 percent compared to Gardner-Webb's 31.1 percent.

For Gardner-Webb, Jhessyka Williams and Carley Plentovich each scored in double-digits with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Williams also posted a team-high eight boards, and C. Plentovich had four steals.

Last time out
UPSTATE – Riley Popplewell posted a career-high 26 points with 12 rebounds for a double-double Tuesday night as the Spartans fell to the Highlanders on the road. USC Upstate scored 42 points in the second half, but couldn't overcome Radford as they dropped the contest 78-57. Brianna Lewis and Barrett Herring also scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Herring posted three blocks.

Gardner-Webb – Redshirt-junior Gabrielle Caponegro scored a career-high 20 points, leading a quartet of Runnin' Bulldogs in double digits as Gardner-Webb defeated UNC Asheville, 85-55, in Big South Conference action on Tuesday evening inside Paul Porter Arena.

Ones to watch
UPSTATE – Riley Popplewell is closing in on 1,000 career points as the season is drawing to an end. The senior is Upstate's second leading scorer, and after posting a career-high 26 points on Tuesday, she is just 29 points shy of the milestone. She also leads the Spartans with 7.8 rebounds per game. Brianna Lewis leads the Spartans in scoring with 15.0 points per game.

Gardner-Webb – Carly and Savannah Plentovich lead the Bulldogs in scoring with 13.9 and 11.6 points per game, respectively. Jhessyka Williams leads the team on glass with 5.9 boards per game.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans are on the road for their final two games of the regular season, beginning with a matchup at Longwood on Wednesday, March 4. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

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