BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The USC Upstate women's basketball program made history as they have achieved the best start to conference play after seven games after a 78-59 finish in Boiling Springs, N.C. advanced the team to 6-1 in conference play and 11-9 overall.  

Upstate got off to a slow start as the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb were able to establish a one-point lead after the first quarter in Boiling Springs, N.C. Despite a 40.0% three-point percentage and a 100% free throw percentage, Upstate was outscored 14-13 in the first 10 minutes. Dakota Reeves led the Spartans through the first quarter with five points after going 2-4 from the field. AC Markham and Isabell West were just behind her with three apiece. Markham led the team in rebounds with two, both of which were defensive.  

The Spartans came alive early in the second quarter and quickly took the lead from the Runnin' Bulldogs. Upstate showed more accuracy in from the field in the second quarter as they posted a 40.0% (8-20) field goal percentage compared to Gardner-Webb's 31.3% (5-16). Isabell West led the team through the second quarter with six points. Trinity Johnson had a solid second quarter as well, scoring four points, making three steals, and collecting three boards. Similar to Johnson, Markham also contributed four points to Upstate's 21 points in the third quarter as well as collected three offensive rebounds. The second quarter saw the Spartans go on a 14-point scoring run to have an at most eight-point lead over the Runnin' Bulldogs. In the second quarter Upstate had scored more points in the paint (14-8), more points off turnovers (7-5), more points from the bench (12-3) and more second chance points (11-5).  

Upstate continued to keep its foot on the gas coming out of the break as it outscored Gardner-Webb 22-16 to hold a 13-point lead going into the final quarter. Once again it was Upstate's ability to be more accurate from the field that was the determining factor as the Spartans went 9-19 (47.4%) from the field compared to the Runnin' Bulldogs who went 5-15 (33.3%). Rebekah Gordon led Upstate through the third quarter with two rebounds and six assists. Jeni Levine also found a rhythm in the third quarter as she posted five points and had one steal. Five other Spartans were able to find success getting to the basket to help Upstate post its 22 points in the third quarter.  

The fourth quarter saw eight Spartans score to once again post a 22-point quarter, while the Runnin' Bulldogs were held to just 16 points. Levine remained successful scoring six points and collecting one rebound in her nine minutes of play in the fourth quarter. Markham hit a career-high for rebounds after she collected five alone in the fourth quarter. West was also able to get up and fight for the ball as she collected four rebounds to help the Spartans reach 13 rebounds in the final quarter. Upstate solidified its win after going 7-16 from the field (43.9%) and 8-10 from the free throw line (80.0%) while Gardner-Webb went 3-13 from the field (23.1%) and 9-12 from the free throw line (75.0%). 

 
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 78; Gardner-Webb 59 
Records: USC Upstate (11-9; 6-1 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (3-17; 2-5 Big South)  
Location: Paul Porter Arena | Boiling Springs, N.C.        

How It Happened: 

First Quarter: Upstate 13: Gardner-Webb 14 

• The Spartans established a small lead early in the first quarter, scoring six points compared to the Runnin' Bulldogs' four in the first two minutes.  

• Gardner-Webb was able to score seven points while holding the Spartans' offense at bay to take the lead before the media timeout (11-6).  

• Following the media timeout, the Spartans were able to bring the game within one point after posting seven points and allowing GWU only one basket from distance (14-13). 

Second Quarter: Upstate 34; Gardner-Webb 28 

• Upstate started the second quarter taking the lead before the media timeout (16-14) before pushing its lead to eight points with just under five and half before the break (22-14). 

• The Runnin Bulldogs were finally able to get on the board in the second quarter with a shot from distance and outscored Upstate 12-7 to make the game 29-26 in favor of the visiting Spartans with two minutes left in the half.  

• In the final two minutes, Upstate retained its lead with a shot from distance and a pair of made free throws despite Gardner-Webb finding points in the paint (34-28). 

Third Quarter: Upstate 56; Gardner-Webb 43 

• Coming out of the break, Upstate posted nine points in the first two minutes to establish a 15-point lead while keeping Gardner-Webb to 28 points.  

• Around the seven-minute mark, Gardner-Webb was able to find some points and outscore the Spartans by 11-10 over the next five minutes (53-39).  

• The final two minutes saw three points for the Spartans and four points for the Runnin' Bulldogs to make the game 56-43 going into the final quarter.  

Fourth Quarter: Upstate 78; Gardner-Webb 59 

• Upstate once again found success early in the quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 6-4 for a 15-point lead with seven minutes remaining to play.  

• The two minutes that followed saw three made free throws for the Spartans as well as a jump shot and a layup to keep a double-digit lead (69-52).  

• Both Upstate and Gardner-Webb posted five points just before the two-minute mark (74-57). 

• In the final two minutes, Upstate outscored Gardner-Webb 4-2 to solidify a 78-59 win.  

Notable 

• Isabell West had her 14th game of the season scoring in double figures with the 13 points she scored today and this is the ninth straight game West has scored in double-figures.  

• Jeni Levine helped lead the Spartans' offense with 13 points scored 13 points which was her ninth game scoring in double figures.  

• Dakota Reeves had her sixth game of the season after she scored 10 points against GWU. 

• Rebekah Gordon also contributed 11 points for her eighth game of the season scoring double digit points.  

• AC Markham had a career-high 11 rebounds while also contributing nine points to the Spartans' total. 

• This is Upstate's highest scoring game of the season, surpassing the 73-64 win over WCU (12/5/23). 

• The last time Upstate scored more than 78 points was against Mars Hill (11/28/21) when the Spartans scored 102 points after going 43-74 from the field.  

Up Next for the Spartans  
Upstate will return home to the G.B. Hodge Center to host the Blue Hose of Presbyterian on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.   

Join us for the Spartan Winter Golf Classic supporting the Upstate Athletic Fund  

The USC Upstate Athletic Fund will host the Spartan Winter Golf Classic on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at Woodfin Ridge Golf Club in Inman.  The Spartan Winter Golf Classic is a signature event on the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) calendar with proceeds directly benefiting Spartan athletics and the on-field efforts of its student-athletes. Registration and sponsorship information is now available online, click here for complete details. 

USC Upstate sponsoring I-26 Rivalry Canned Food Drive presented by Ingles  

Help the Spartans score three bonus points in the yearlong rivalry series against UNC Asheville, the Ingles I-26 Rivalry, by donating canned and non-perishable food items when you attend home events through Saturday, February 10!  Donations are accepted at the Hodge Center everyday including gamedays and look for more Ingles store drop off locations and special incentives for donations on our @UpstateSpartans social media accounts!   All donations support Miracle Hill Ministries in Spartanburg. 

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