SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate women's basketball fell 97-64 to the Longwood Lancers in the final mid-week road game of the regular season. Rebekah Gordon led the team with 13 points which was accompanied by five rebounds. AC Markham, Zora Fray-Chinn, and Nyla Walker all contributed nine points each to the Spartans total. 

Upstate found itself on defense in the first quarter as the Spartans faced 18 shots from the Lancers. A seven-point run, and a 12-point run from Longwood set the Spartans back by 16-point at the end of the first quarter. Six Spartans racked up points after the first 10 minutes including Markham, Walker, and Isabella Geraci who all helped lead in points. Geraci and Tali Roldan led in rebounds as well with three each.  

During the second quarter, the Spartans gained some momentum scoring 20 points with a quarter of those points coming from Fray-Chinn. Jeni Levine also contributed four points all in the form of free throws. Upstate went 8-8 for free throws in the second quarter compared to Longwood's 1-1.  

The Spartans continued to try to come back in the third quarter, scoring 15 points and being led by Talia Roldan (4) and AC Markham (4). Markham also led the team in rebounds for the second quarter. As a team Upstate went 53.8% from the field; 14 of Upstate's points were in the paint while the remaining point came from a free throw from Geraci.  

In the final 10 minutes, Upstate was able to outscore Longwood 16-15, going 5-15 compared to the Lancers' 4-13. Walker and Roldan led the charge in the fourth quarter with four points each. Gordon and Markham led the team in rebounds with three rebounds while Fray-Chinn earned two steals.  

 
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 64; Longwood 97 
Records: USC Upstate (9-17, 6-9 Big South) vs. Longwood (7-19, 6-9 Big South)    

Willett Hall | Farmville, Va. 

How It Happened:

First Quarter:    

• Longwood started the game with a seven-point run.  

• Upstate brought the game within two points with a three from Geraci and a layup from Fray-Chinn.  

• The Lancers responded with a 12-point run to make the Spartans trail 19-5 with 4:49 left in the quarter.  

• The next two minutes brought five points for Upstate along with six points for Longwood, making the score 25-10 with just over two minutes in the first.  

• Another three points for the Spartans and another four for the Lancers finished the first quarter with the home team leading 29-13.  

Second Quarter:  

• The second quarter led off with a 10-point run from the Lancers to force Upstate to trail 39-13.  

• Upstate was able to get some momentum and go on an eight-point run to make the game 39-21 with just over five minutes left in the half.  

• The next two minutes Upstate outscored the Lancers 8-7 shifting the score to 46-26 but leaving the Lancers in the lead.  

• Upstate finished the third quarter with an additional four points compared to the Lancers' eight, sending the Spartans trailing 54-33 into halftime.  

Third Quarter:  

• Despite scoring first in the third quarter, the first three minutes of the quarter added four points to the Spartans' total while also adding eight points to the Lancers' total (62-37).  

• Upstate and Longwood exchanged buckets for the next two minutes with Upstate posting six points compared to Longwood's four to make the game 66-43 with 5:30 left in the third quarter.  

• Three sets of made free throws and one jumper in the paint for Longwood made the game 74-43.  

• The final two and a half minutes of the third quarter resulted in an additional five points for the Spartans as well as another eight points for the Lancers (82-48).  

Fourth Quarter:   

• The final quarter started off slow with Longwood and Upstate posting two points each in the first three minutes.  

• Upstate scored five points before the media time out with 4:19 left in the game, while Longwood scored another four (88-55).  

• The next three minutes saw seven points for the Spartans while the Lancers added another four points, making the game 92-62 with under two minutes to go. 

• Longwood scored its final five points while Upstate got its final two to finish the game 97-64.  
      

Notable 

• This was Gordon's 12th game scoring in double-figures.  

• Gordon has scored in double-figures in five of Upstate's last six games (Longwood, Winthrop, Charleston Southern, UNC Asheville, Campbell). 

• Gordon tied her season-high for field goals made(6) for the fifth time this season.  

• Fray-Chinn set a new season-high with three steals, surpassing her previous high of two set against WCU (11/18/22). 

• Jeni Levine set a new season-high for minutes played with 38, surpassing her previous high of 35 minutes set against Campbell (1/11/13). 

Up Next for the Spartans 

The Spartans will return home to host High Point on Saturday before finishing the regular season schedule with Presbyterian at home on Wednesday and Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs on Saturday.  

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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