SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's basketball program collected its first home loss of the season after falling 56-53 to the Spartans of UNC Greensboro on Monday morning.  

In the final home game of the 2023 year, Upstate came out strong in the first quarter eager to keep their 3-0 record at home alive. Both Spartan teams trading points through the first quarter, but the Upstate Spartans were able to maintain a small through the first six minutes as they were first to get on the board. Upstate held UNC Greensboro scoreless for the final four minutes of the first quarter while stacking seven points to make the game 15-6 at the end of the first 10 minutes. Jeni Levine and Gracie Barnes led the team on offense with four points each while Rebekah Gordon, Isabell West, and Zora Fray-Chinn also got points on the board. Levine and Dakota Reeves led the team in both rebounds and steals with two apiece 

With a nine-point lead going into the second quarter, Upstate continued to push on offense, reaching a game-high lead of 12 points in the second quarter. UNC Greensboro was able to bring the game within three points but Upstate was able to maintain its lead going into the halftime break with the score sitting 29-23. AC Markham led the Spartans in green and white through the second quarter with five points. Despite UNCG having more success from the field (42.1%-41.7%), the Upstate was able to find more success from distance (40.0%-14.3%) and more success from the free throw line (100.0%-0.00%). The hosting Spartans also were able to have success scoring off turnovers (5-4).  

Coming out of the break, the Spartans of UNC Greensboro continued to battle to try to take the lead from the Spartans of Upstate, but the hosting Spartans remained vigilant to keep hold of the lead. Levine contributed five points to help Upstate stack another 12 points to its now 41-point total to retain the lead going into the final 10 minutes (41-39). In her seven minutes of play in the third quarter, Markham was able to collect three rebounds and go 100% from the free throw line. Reeves played the full quarter for the Spartans while Levine and Johnson played just shy of the full 10.  

In the final 10 minutes, Upstate struggled to find success getting to the basket and UNC Greensboro was able to take the lead with just over three minutes of play remaining. The Spartans in green and white fought till the end and were able to keep the game close but came up just short as they fell by merely three points. West led the push on offense as she scored half of Upstate's fourth quarter points in an attempt to walk away with the fourth consecutive home win of the season. West also led Upstate in the final quarter with rebounds (3) while Markham and Johnson had two respectively. Throughout the game Upstate took advantage of its chances at the free throw line, going 88.9% (16-18).  

 
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 53; UNC Greensboro 56 
Records: USC Upstate (5-7; 0-0 Big South) vs. UNC Greensboro (9-3; 0-0 SoCon)   
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.      

How It Happened: 

First Quarter: Upstate 15; UNC Greensboro 6 

• Upstate started the game with four points compared to UNC Greensboro who scored two before an over two-minute-long scoring drought commenced (4-2). 

• The visiting Spartans broke the scoring drought, but the hosting Spartans were able to keep their lead and match UNCG's four points scored in the next two minutes (8-6). 

• Upstate was able to keep UNC Greensboro scoreless for over four minutes while racking up seven points to finish the first quarter with a nine-point lead (15-6). 

Second Quarter: Upstate 29; UNC Greensboro 23 

• UNC Greensboro outscored the Spartans 9-7 in the first few minutes of the second quarter but Upstate retained its lead (22-15). 

• Following the media timeout, the Upstate Spartans still held a five-point lead despite being outscored 4-3. 

• The final three minutes of the half, Upstate outscored UNCG 5-4 to go into the halftime break leading 29-23. 

Third Quarter: Upstate 41; UNC Greensboro 39 

• The first three minutes of the third quarter, UNCG outscore Upstate 5-3 to bring the game within four points (32-28). 

• Upstate responded by outscoring UNCG 7-1 to extend its lead to 10-points going into the media timeout (39-29). 

• Following the media timeout, the visiting Spartans went on an eight-point run to bring the game within two points with just over three minutes to go in the quarter. 

• A pair of made free throws by both teams made the game 41-39 with Upstate leading going into the final quarter.  

Fourth Quarter: Upstate 53; UNC Greensboro 56 

• The first two minutes of the fourth quarter saw Upstate score seven points compared to UNCG's three points to make the score 48-42 with just over eight minutes remaining in the game. 

• After over two minutes of scoreless play, UNCG was able to continue to hold Upstate scoreless for two minutes while posting eight points and take the lead (50-48). 

• Upstate tied the game 50-50 with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter. 

• The final three minutes saw three points for the hosting Spartans and six points for the visiting Spartans leading Upstate to fall by just three points (56-53).  

Notable 

• Jeni Levine tied her career-high for scoring with 13 points which was previously set against Detroit Mercy (11/24/23). 

• This was J. Levine's fifth game of the season scoring in double figures and her third consecutive game scoring in double figures. 

• Isabell West had her fourth game of the season scoring in double figures with the 13 points she scored today.  

• Zora Fray-Chinn tied her season-high for scoring with seven points today, which was previously set against Western Carolina (12/5/23). 

• Both West and Levine played season-high minutes today as West played 31 minutes and Levine played 34 minutes.  

• Upstate tied its season-high for blocked shots (4) which was previously set against Furman (12/9/23). 

Up Next for the Spartans  
The Spartans will finish the week in Atlanta, Ga. on Wednesday, taking on the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech at 2:00 p.m. ET before taking a break for the holidays.  

   
Support the Spartans  
USC Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center on Wednesday, January 3 to host I-26 Rival UNC Asheville at 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets for all USC Upstate men's and women's basketball games are on sale now with tickets beginning at just $8! To order log into upstatespartans.com/tickets.     
   

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