GREENSBORO, N.C. – USC Upstate battled to the end as it fell 54-48 in Greensboro, North Carolina on Wednesday night to the Spartans in the blue and gold.
Both Spartan teams were looking for a battle as the first quarter was scoreless for the first four minutes until Talia Roldan put the first points on the board with a second chance layup. UNC Greensboro posted back-to-back layups before Roldan hit a three to regain the lead for Upstate. Upstate and Greensboro went back and forth until the end of the quarter which was capped off by a driving layup from Zora Fray-Chinn and a turnaround jumper from Rebekah Gordon. Roldan led the quarter with five points while Fray-Chinn was just behind her with four points.
UNCG regained the lead at the start of the second quarter and went on a four-point run until Fray-Chinn interrupted the run with a layup. The Spartans in blue and gold then had a 10-point run, forcing the Spartans sporting the green and grey to trail by 13 with just under three-minute until halftime. Fray-Chinn once again interrupted the run, scoring another layup and making the score 28-17. Nyla Walker hit a pullup jumper to bring UNCG's lead back under 10, but the Upstate Spartans went into halftime trailing by 11 after two made free throws from UNCG.
Coming out of the break, the Spartans were both scoreless for the first three minutes until Fray-Chinn hit a floating jump shot to help pick at UNCG's lead. UNC Greensboro hit a game-high lead of 13 points just before Upstate went on a seven-point run to get within six of the Spartans in blue and gold. Upstate went into the last ten minutes trailing by seven. Fray-Chinn had a game high six points in the third quarter while Geraci sported four points herself.
The final ten minutes were a battle of wills as UNCG extended its lead to 12 quickly in the fourth quarter but the Spartans remained collected as they narrowed the deficit to eight points with six minutes left. Upstate got its second wind as Rebekah Gordon hit a jump shot to kick start a seven-point run. With just over a minute left, USC Upstate trailed by only four points. UNC Greensboro would drop in two more shots from the free throw line to finish the game 54-48 in favor of the home team.
Head coach Jason Williams said, "Today our group did a really good job of really buying into the concepts we've been working on. For 40 minutes, we competed, and we got in and got after it. We're starting to understand and we're learning and growing. It doesn't happen overnight, and our kids are constantly coming back to the gym and working and getting better".
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 48; UNC Greensboro 54
Records: USC Upstate (1-4-0, 0-0-0 Big South); UNC Greensboro (3-2-0, 0-0-0 SoCon)
Location: Fleming Gymnasium | Greensboro, N.C.
First Quarter
-
Talia Roldan started the game hot with one rebound and gave Upstate its first points with a layup with just under seven minutes left in the quarter.
-
UNCG tied the game and took the lead with a jumper and a layup from Howard in the sixth minute.
-
Roldan got the lead back for Upstate with a three-pointer.
-
UNC Greensboro responded with a three pointer for the lead and a layup to put some distance between the Spartans.
-
With under three left in the quarter USC Upstate began closing in on UNCG with points from Nyla Walker, Zora Fray-Chinn, and Rebekah Gordon, who gave Upstate the lead before the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
-
UNCG went on a five-point run to start the second quarter to force Upstate to trail by five with seven to go before half.
-
Fray-Chinn made a layup on the fast break in attempts to help cut down the lead.
-
The Spartans in blue and gold responded with a 10-point run to keep Upstate at 15 until less than three remained before half.
-
Fray-Chinn and Walker posted two points each to make the game 28-19.
-
Upstate went into halftime trailing 30-19.
Third Quarter
-
Fray-Chinn claimed the first points of the third quarter which UNCG responded to with a jumper.
-
UNC Greensboro hit a quarter-high 13-point lead with three minutes left in the third quarter as the score read 39-26.
-
Upstate went on a seven-point run with Fray-Chinn scoring four points and Geraci sinking a three.
-
Going into the final 10 minutes the game was 42-35 in favor of the home team.
Fourth Quarter
-
UNCG started the fourth quarter with a three and a jumper from Simpson.
-
Rebekah Gordon and Isabella Geraci posted two more points each for Upstate to make the game 47-39.
-
With four and half left in the game the Spartans were down by 11 before going on a seven-point run to cut the lead down to just four points.
-
UNCG was able to hold their lead and finish the game with some security with two final free throws.
Notable
-
Zora Fray-Chinn (14) and Rebekah Gordon (10) recorded back-to-back games with double-figures.
-
Fray-Chinn set a new career-high in points with the 14 she recorded tonight.
-
Isabella Geraci also was in double-figures for scoring for the second time this season.
-
Geraci earned her first double-double of the season as she scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds.
-
This was Upstate's highest field goal percentage on the road (.396) as well as the most assists on the road so far this season.
-
Jeni Levine saw a season-high 23 minutes of play tonight against UNCG
-
Upstate led UNCG in points off the bench (26-17).
UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate will take some time to enjoy the holiday before heading back out on the road to play Vanderbilt on Tuesday, November 29th at 7:30 p.m.
JOIN UP
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes! Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!
CHEER ON THE SPARTANS AT THE HODGE!
USC Upstate is offering a variety of ways for fans to come watch Upstate Basketball this season! Tickets can be purchased through ticketreturn.com including courtside seats, season packages, two new mini plan offerings, group packages and individual game tickets. Click here to order your tickets now.
Keep UP with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter: @UpstateWBB
Instagram: @upstatespartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
