SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate women's basketball program earned its first win of the season with a 72-44 finish against the Bobcats of Lees-McRae after being on the road for the first three-games of the season.  

After three back-to-back-to-back games on the road, the Spartans were excited to back home in the G.B. Hodge Center and it showed as they came out with energy against the Bobcats. Despite the two teams sitting neck and neck for a good portion of the first quarter, Upstate was able to run away with the lead with under four minutes left in the quarter as the Spartans went on an 11-point run. Dakota Reeves and Jeni Levine led the Spartans on offense through the first quarter with six points each. Reeves showed precision as she went 3-4 from the field while Levine was able to go 2-3 from distance. As a unit, Upstate showed accuracy through the first quarter, going 61.5% from the field and 83.3% from the charity stripe.  

After putting away 24 points in the first quarter, Upstate continued its push against Lees-McRae eager for the first win of the season. The Spartans tallied 15 points in the second quarter while allowing the Bobcats to scored only six points. Reeves continued to be dangerous on offense for Upstate as she scored another six points, bringing her to double-digits before the halftime break. AC Markham put away four points while recording three rebounds as well. For the first time this season, USC Upstate went into halftime leading as the game sat 39-21.  

Coming out of the break, the Bobcats tried to get a jump on the hosting Spartans with a quick two points but would be forced to go scoreless through the next two minutes and change. While Lees-McRae sat in a scoring drought, Upstate went on a 10-point scoring spree to make the game 49-23. Isabell West proved to be a key player for the Spartans as she scored nine points, going 4-4 from the field and 1-1 from the free throw line. West's efforts on offense helped her score eight of Upstate's 10 points in the paint in the third quarter as well as score half of Upstate's third quarter points.  

West and the Spartans remained consistent through the final quarter as the Spartans posted 15 points and held the Bobcats to 11, with six of Lees-McRae's points coming in the final three minutes. Similar to the third quarter, West simply couldn't be stopped in the paint as she scored another eight points. Of the Spartans 10 points in the paint, West was responsible for six of them while also recording three rebounds. At the final whistle, the Spartans emerged victorious with their first win of the 2023-24 season. Reeves' had her second straight game scoring in double figures while West had her first this season and set several new career-highs.  

  
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 72; Lees-McRae 44 
Records: USC Upstate (1-3; 0-0 Big South); Lees-McRae (0-1; 0-0 Conference Carolinas) 
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.   

How It Happened: 

First Quarter: Upstate 24; Lees-McRae 15 

• The Spartans got on the board early but the Bobcats were able to keep up as the teams sat 6-6 after the first four minutes of the first quarter. 

• Upstate was able to establish a small lead until Lees-McRae took a one-point lead with 3:53 left in the first quarter. 

• The next two minutes saw the Spartans go on an 11-point run to take 10 point lead with under two minutes remaining.  

• Lees-McRae was able to outscore Upstate in the final minutes of the first quarter but Upstate held onto a nine-point lead after the first quarter. 

Second Quarter: Upstate 39; Lees-McRae 21 

• Upstate was able to score first yet again in the second quarter off a free throw before a minute and a half scoring drought commenced and was broke by Lees-McRae with just under seven minutes on the clock before half.  

• The Spartans extended their lead to 15 points after a nine-point scoring run.  

• Lees-McRae posted four points in the final four minutes but would continue to be outscored by Upstate, which posted five points in the final four minutes of the first half.  

Third Quarter: Upstate 57; Lees-McRae 33 

• Lees-McRae was able to score the first points coming out of the break but would then go scoreless for nearly the next two minutes and 20 seconds.  

• Upstate put away 10 unanswered points to make the game 49-23 before the Bobcats were able to score again with under seven minutes left in the quarter. 

• The Spartans continued to stay hot on offense, posting seven points compared to Lees-McRae's one over the next four minutes.  

• Despite the Spartans scoring only one point in the final two minutes of the third quarter, compared to the Bobcats' six points, Upstate led 57-33 going into the final quarter. 

Fourth Quarter: Upstate 72; Lees-McRae 44 

• Upstate started the final quarter with a seven-point run to force Lees-McRae to trail by 31 points.  

• The Spartans scoring was stopped by two points for the Bobcats, but only to be followed by another five points for the home team.  

• Lees-McRae was able to get one final offensive push in as the Bobcats scored nine-points but the game was out of reach as the Spartans led by at one point low of 28 points in the final five minutes  

Notable 

• This was the first ever meeting between the USC Upstate Spartans and the Bobcats of Lees-McRae, but was Jason Williams' 18th win over the Conference Carolina school.  

• Gracie Barnes saw her first career start tonight against Lees-McRae. 

• Last time USC Upstate won and scored 70+ points was February 8th, 2023 against CSU (71-67). 

• Isabell West set new career highs for scoring (21 points), field goals made (8-10), free throws made (5-5), and rebounds (7).  

• AC Markham had a season-high five rebounds while scoring nine points and collecting six rebounds.  

• Upstate has won its home opener for the last five seasons. 

Up Next for the Spartans 

Upstate returns to the road to take on the Royals of Queens University of Charlotte Friday with a 12:00 p.m. tipoff. The Spartans return home to the G.B. Hodge Center to host S.C. State Monday, Nov. 20th at 7:00 p.m. 

 
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