Box Score

AC Markham

USC Upstate USCU 11-20,7-11 Big South

High Point HP 16-13,13-5 Big South

USC Upstate USCU

11-20,7-11 Big South

Final

Mar. 02, 2023

High Point HP

16-13,13-5 Big South

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
USC Upstate USCU	5	10	13	15	43
High Point HP	9	7	19	15	50

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 3/2/2023 9:43:00 PM

Despite Stellar Second Half Push from Markham Women's Basketball Concludes the 2022-2023 Season at the Big South Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal Game Against High Point

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – USC Upstate women's basketball concluded its 2022-2023 season as it fell 50-43 to High Point University in the Quarterfinals of the Big South Basketball Tournament. This was Upstate women's basketball's second time making it to the Quarterfinals and the first time under the direction of head coach Jason Williams.

Upstate came swinging right out of the gate scoring five points in the first few minutes to give Upstate an early lead. The Panthers were able to take the lead halfway through the first quarter, but the Spartans were able to keep them scoreless for the final four minutes of the quarter. Trinity Johnson and Isabella Geraci were responsible for Upstate's points while Gordon led the team with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

In the second quarter, Upstate was able to bring the game within two points with five minutes left until the halftime break. A pair of made free throws and a driving layup from Geraci as well as a driving layup from Nyla Walker put the game within one point going into halftime. Despite a quiet first quarter, Geraci was able to contribute nine points to Upstate's 15 total in the second quarter. Walker helped in scoring with four points while Johnson chipped in two points as well. Zora Fray-Chinn led the team in rebounds with three while Gordon, Jeni Levine, and Geraci had two apiece. J. Levine also had two steals in the second quarter while Gordon and Fray-Chinn had one each.

Coming out of halftime, both teams came out with energy causing six lead changes in the first four minutes as well as causing the game to be tied three times (19-19, 22-22, 24-24). Going into the media timeout the Spartans trailed by one point but the Panthers would go on a six-point run to establish a lead. Despite a driving layup from Johnson late in the quarter, the Spartans trailed by seven points going into the final 10 minutes. AC Markham led the Spartans through the quarter with six points and three rebounds while Johnson had four points and three rebounds, and J. Levine had three points and one rebound. Gordon excelled in the rebound category with seven in the third quarter, six of which were offensive rebounds.

Markham started the fourth quarter with two made free throws to bring the Panthers' lead back to single digits just before High Point went on a six-point run to make the game 41-30. The Spartans trailed by as many as 11 points in the final quarter but through heart and pure grit were able to bring the game within five points with 1:13 remaining in the game. Despite the push in the final 73 seconds the Spartans were unable to comeback and fell 50-43. Markham once again had a solid quarter contributing six points and five rebounds (2 OR, 3 DR). J. Levine finished the final quarter with four points, one rebound, one steal, and one assist. Upstate capitalized on the small moments, going 84.6% from the free throw line (11-13).

Game Information
Quarterfinals
Score: USC Upstate 43: High Point 50
Records: #7 USC Upstate (11-20, 7-11 Big South) vs. #2 High Point (16-13, 13-5 Big South)

Bojangles Coliseum | Charlotte, N.C.

How It Happened:

First Quarter:

The first four minutes brought five points for Upstate as well as four points for High Point giving the Spartans a one-point lead.
In the fifth minute High Point took the lead with a three pointer which was followed up with a layup to give High Point a four-point lead at the media timeout.
The game went scoreless for the remainder of the first quarter as the score read 9-5 in favor of High Point after the first 10 minutes.

Second Quarter:

The second quarter started with two made free throws from High Point followed by a scoreless three minutes.
A technical foul by High Point provided some momentum for the Spartans as Geraci made both free throws just before Walker was able to find the basket to bring the game within two.
High Point pushed the game 16-9 with a layup and a three-pointer with 4:36 left in the quarter.
Two made free throws kicked off what would end up being a six-point run for the Spartans to bring the game within one just before halftime.

Third Quarter:

Upstate found the basket quick to take the lead with 17 points. High Point responded with a three-pointer to reclaim the lead and make the game 19-17.
J. Levine made a layup as well as the and one to return the lead to the Spartans just before High Point hit another three to once again tie the game 22-22.
A second chance jumper from Markham pushed the Spartans to 25 but the lead returned to the Panthers with a driving layup and a made free throw (25-24).
At the media timeout High Point led by one point (27-26) after several lead changes.
Back-to-back three's from the Panthers forced the Spartans to trail by seven with 2:15 left in the quarter.
Upstate went finished the third quarter trailing by seven points as both teams found the basket one more time to end the quarter (35-28).

Fourth Quarter:

Upstate broke what was a scoreless first two and a half minutes of the fourth quarter as Markham made two free throws to bring the game within five points.
High Point went on a six-point run forcing the Spartans to trail 41-30 with just under four and a half minutes left in the game.
Back-to-back jumpers from the Spartans brought the game back within seven points before the Panthers were able to hit a three-pointer (44-34).
Free throws from Markham, Johnson, and Gordon helped the Spartans outscore the Panthers 6-1 leading up to the final minute of play (45-40).
The final minute of play saw three points for Upstate and another five for High Point and finished 50-43 in favor of the Panthers.

Notable

The last time Upstate made it to the Quarterfinals of the Big South Basketball Tournament was in 2021 when it fell to High Point (85-63) after beating Charleston Southern 72-64 in the First Round.
Upstate held High Point to its second lowest scoring win of the season, just ahead of Winthrop (2/25/23).
Overall, Upstate out shot High Point 55-45 and had more rebounds (43-32).
With the 12 points she had tonight, AC Markham had her seventh game of the season scoring in double-figures.
Rebekah Gordon finished the season with a new high for rebounds (11), surpassing her previous high of nine set against CSU (3/1/23) and tying her high for assists (2).