FARMVILLE, Va. – The USC Upstate women's basketball program finished its Wednesday night in Farmville with its first conference loss of the 2023-2024 season after falling 66-58 to the Longwood Lancers.  

Upstate found itself in a hole during the first quarter as the Spartans trailed 7-2 early. The Spartans were able to find the basket through the first quarter and keep the game close with the Lancer leading by only six after the 10 minutes of play. Gracie Barnes led the Spartans through the first quarter with five points while Isabell West was just behind her with four. AC Markham led the team in assists with two and collected two boards. 

The Spartans found a rhythm in the second quarter and outscored the Lancers 16-13 to make the game 31-28 going into halftime. Dakota Reeves posted six points to help Upstate reel in Longwood's lead as well as bring her to nine points total at the half. Zora Fray-Chinn and Barnes both found success from distance while Rebekah Gordon's success in the second quarter came from the free throw line. The Lancers had slightly more accuracy from the field, going 6-13 compared to the Spartans' 5-14. Upstate dominated Longwood from the three-point arc in the second quarter, scoring four from distance compared to the Lancers' one.  

Following the break, Upstate not only was able to gain the lead over Longwood but also held the Lancers to only seven points scored. Trinity Johnson carried the load for Upstate in the third quarter with help on offense coming from Gordon, Markham, and Barnes as well. Gordon led the team in rebounds with four while Reeves, Johnson, and West collected two apiece. Reeves, Johnson, and West all recorded one steal each as well in the third quarter to help fend off the Lancers' offense. The Spartans were able to score seven points off turnovers as well as six points in the paint, four points from second chance opportunities, and two points on the fastbreak. 

In the final quarter, Upstate contained Longwood's offense well but could not keep the Lancers away from the free throw line. Longwood capitalized on 11 of their 18 awarded free throws to help reach their 28 total points in the fourth quarter. Johnson refused to let the Lancers walk away with an easy win as she posted eight points in the fourth quarter while West posted five as well. Despite the Spartans relentless work ethic to come back, Upstate fell 66-58 at the final whistle.  

 
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 58; Longwood 66 
Records: USC Upstate (8-9; 3-1 Big South) vs. Longwood (4-13; 2-3 Big South)  

Location: Joan Perry Brock Center | Farmville, Va.        

How It Happened: 

First Quarter: Upstate 12; Longwood 18 

• Upstate was able to get the first points of the game thanks to Barnes, but Longwood spent the first four minutes of the contest stacking 10 points to take the lead (10-2). 

• The Spartans broke their scoreless streak with just over four minutes left in the quarter and outscored the Lancers 10-4 in the next two minutes (14-12).  

• Longwood claimed the final points of the first quarter to go into the second quarter with a six-point lead (18-12).  

Second Quarter: Upstate 28; Longwood 31 

• Longwood got the first points of the second quarter but Upstate quickly stacked eight points to tie the game (20-20).  

• The Lancers responded with a three to reclaim the lead before a scoreless two minutes held the game at 23-20. 

• Longwood broke the dry streak but Upstate was right behind the Lancers with five points to make it a tie game again (25-25). 

• Upstate took the lead 28-27 with just over two minutes remaining in the half. 

• Longwood finished the half with four points forcing Upstate to trail going into the halftime break (31-28).  

Third Quarter: Upstate 39; Longwood 38 

• The Spartans came out of the break and posted five points to take the lead 33-31 but the Lancers were quick to hit one from distance to take the lead back (34-33). 

• A near three minutes passed as neither team was able to find success getting to the basket.  

• Markham broke the dry spell to give Upstate the lead (35-34) but Longwood was able to get it back shortly after thanks to a pair of made free throws.  

• In an identical fashion, Johnson took the lead back for the Spartans with a pair of made free throws just before the Lancers scored on a driving layup (38-37).  

• Upstate sank the final jumper of the third quarter to take a one-point lead going into the final quarter (39-38). 

Fourth Quarter: Upstate 58; Longwood 66 

• Longwood tried to get a jump on the Spartans in the final quarter, starting with three points but Upstate quickly found the basket to make it 41-41. 

• The Lancers went on a 10-point run to take the lead and force the Spartans to trail with six minutes to go.  

• Upstate was able to get back on the board, scoring seven points and bringing the game within one shot from distance.  

• Longwood outscored Upstate 10-4 in the next two minutes to extend its lead to nine points.  

• In the final two minutes, Upstate outscored Longwood 6-5 but it wasn't enough as the game finished 66-58 in favor of the hosting Lancers.  

Notable 

• Gracie Barnes had her first game of the season scoring in double figures with a career-high 10 points scored.   

• Isabell West had her 11th game of the season scoring in double figures with the 11 points she scored today and this is the sixth straight game West has scored in double-figures.  

• Trinity Johnson had her eighth game of the season scoring 10+ points and has scored no less than 10 points in the last four games.  

• Dakota Reeves had her fourth game of the season scoring in double figures.  

• Rebekah Gordon tied her season-high for rebounds with 10 which was set last season during the Big South Conference Tournament against High Point (3/2/23). 

• Upstate's last loss was against Georgia Tech (12/20/23; 81-50) 

Up Next for the Spartans  
Upstate returns home to the G.B. Hodge Center to finish the week hosting the Radford Highlanders at 4:00 p.m.  

   
Support the Spartans  
USC Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center on Saturday, January 20 to host Radford at 4:00 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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