SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Despite an impressive second half push, USC Upstate women's basketball came up short in Wednesday's home game, as the Spartans fell 57-51 to the Fighting Camels of Campbell University. Rebekah Gordon had her seventh game this season scoring in double figures (15 pts.) while also recording five or more rebounds for the 12th time this season (7).  

Campbell scored first but Upstate was quick to not only get on the board. The Spartans found themselves on their heels as the Fighting Camels went on a nine-point run in the first quarter. Upstate trailed 12-7 after the first 10 minutes. Gordon led the Spartans through the first quarter with four points and two rebounds.  

Upstate took the Camels by storm to start the second quarter, going on a 10-point run and reclaiming the lead 15-13 with just over six minutes left in the half. Campbell responded with a 12-point run to make the game 24-15. The Spartans trailed by 10 points going into the break. Talia Roldan was able to put away six points while Jeni Levine, Zora Fray-Chinn, and Gordon recorded two each. Geraci led the team with three rebounds. Upstate posted 12 points in the paint and had eight points coming from the bench.  

Coming out of the break, Campbell and Upstate exchanged points with the Spartans scoring seven points, compared to Campbell's 12. With just over six minutes left in the third quarter, Upstate went on an 11-point run to put the game within four points. Despite the run, Upstate was forced to go into the fourth and final quarter trailing 46-37. Upstate outscored the Fighting Camels 20-19, going 37.5% from the field, 100.0% from the three-point arc, and 100.0% from the free throw line. Gordon tallied another seven points while Roldan, Fray-Chinn, and Markham posted three each.  

With 10 minutes left and 10 points between the Spartans and a victory, Upstate started the second quarter with a seven-point run to put the game within two points. A steady stream of scoring from both sides progressed the game along until time expired on what Upstate hoped would be a comeback win. Although the Spartans outscored the Fighting Camels in both the third and fourth quarters (14-11), Upstate fell 57-51. Johnson led Upstate in the final quarter with five points, three rebounds, and two steals.  

 
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 51; Campbell 57  
Records: USC Upstate (8-13, 5-5 Big South) vs. Campbell (13-9, 8-3 Big South)  

G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C. 

How It Happened:   

First Quarter:   

• Campbell got on the board first but Upstate was quick to respond and take the lead for the first time in the game three minutes into play.  

• The Fighting Camels went on a nine-point run to take the lead and make the Spartans trail 11-4 with just over two and half left in the first quarter.  

• Upstate cut Campbell's lead to six with a made free throw from Johnson. 

• Campbell added one more to its score as well to make the game 12-5 in favor of the visiting team after the first quarter.  

Second Quarter: 

• Upstate started the second quarter with a 10-point run to lead Campbell 15-12 with six minutes left in the second quarter.  

• Campbell narrowed Upstate's lead to one point before the media timeout. Following the media timeout, Campbell continued the run with an additional 10-points to make the game 24-15 with less than a minute left in the half.  

• Upstate tallied another two points before halftime while Campbell tallied another three, which left the Spartans trailing by 10 at the break.  

Third Quarter: 

• Coming out of the break, Campbell posted another five points to which Upstate responded with a pair of made free throws from Gordon.  

• The two teams exchanged points with Upstate scoring five points compared to Campbell's seven to make the game 39-24 with just over six minutes left in the third quarter.  

• The Spartans went on an 11-point run to cut the Fighting Camels' lead to four points (39-35) with under two minutes left in the third quarter. 

• In the final two minutes of the quarter Upstate posted another four points while Campbell was able to score another five, making the game 46-37 going into the final quarter.  

Fourth Quarter:  

• To start the final quarter Upstate went on a seven-point run to bring the game within two with over eight minutes remaining.  

• Campbell extended its lead back to six points with a pair of layups.  

• In the three minutes that followed, Upstate and Campbell both added another four points respectively to the board, making the game 54-48 with under 90 seconds left.  

• Despite both teams posting another three points each, Upstate fell short in the end with a 57-51 loss.  
     

Notable 

• Gordon found herself scoring in double-figures for the seventh time this season.  

• Gordon had her 12th game recording five or more rebounds (7). 

• Gordon set a new season-high for field goals made and attempted (6-16). 

• Roldan had her sixth game with five or more rebounds (6). 

• Johnson had her eighth game with five or more rebounds (7) in addition to setting a new season-high for minutes played (37). 

• Geraci set a new season-high with the five assists she had against Campbell.  

Up Next for the Spartans 

Upstate is back on the road for a quick trip to Asheville on Saturday to play the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville at 2:00 p.m. 

CHEER ON THE SPARTANS AT THE HODGE 
USC Upstate is offering a variety of ways for fans to watch Upstate Basketball this season! Tickets can be purchased through ticketreturn.com and options include courtside seats, season packages, two new mini-plan offerings, group packages, and individual game tickets. Click here to order your tickets.  

Support Our Women's Basketball Team in the Play4Kay Free Throw Challenge 

Our team is proud to support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund by joining the 2023 Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge! You can support our team by making a pledge for every free throw we make during the month of February or by making a one-time flat donation! Donate Here.  

 
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