SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's basketball program achieved another historic feat after a 62-58 home win over Presbyterian College advanced its Big South record to 7-1 which is the best start after eight games in the program's Division I era.  

Upstate began Wednesday night's home game with a quiet first quarter, as the Spartans posted only 12 points in the first 10 minutes but also held the visiting Blue Hose to four points scored. Rebekah Gordon led the charge through the first quarter with four points while AC Markham, Jeni Levine, Dakota Reeves, and Trinity Johnson all contributed two points to Upstate's 12-point quarter. Zora Fray-Chinn led the team in rebounds with three. As a unit, Upstate found its success in the paint, scoring all 12 points from close range while getting six points off turnovers and four points from second chances.  

Despite going 46.2% from the field and 50.0% from distance, the Spartans struggled on offense in the second quarter and allowed the Blue Hose to tie the game 26-26 before halftime. Johnson led the team through the quarter with four points, one rebound, and one assist while Fray-Chinn and Isabell West had some success from distance to keep the Spartans in the game. Presbyterian was able to go 60.0% from the field as well as 66.7% from the three-point arc to score 22 points in the second quarter.  

Following the halftime break, the two teams continued to duke it out as we saw four times that the score was tied and seven lead changes in the third quarter. Regardless of the back and forth, it was Upstate who came out on top, outscoring Presbyterian 18-17 to establish a one-point lead going into the final quarter. Gordon once again got back in the scoring rhythm and led Upstate in points with four while Gracie Barnes, Fray-Chinn, and Reeves all contributed three apiece. Johnson pitched in one point from the free throw line but played a massive role in finding others to score as she was credited with four assists in the third quarter.  

In the final quarter, the Spartans outscored the Blue Hose 18-15 to secure the 62-58 win. Levine showed out in the final quarter, scoring 11 of the Upstate's 18 points in the fourth. Johnson once again led the team in assists in the fourth quarter with two assists and five additional points. Reeves and Johnson had three boards respectively to help Upstate out-rebound Presbyterian 10-5. The Spartans showed accuracy in the final quarter as a 60.0% field goal percentage, 66.7% three-point percentage, and 80.0% free throw percentage lifted Upstate to victory.  

 
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 62; Presbyterian College 58 
Records: USC Upstate (12-9; 7-1 Big South) vs. Presbyterian College (12-11; 3-5 Big South)  
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.        

How It Happened: 

First Quarter: Upstate 12: Presbyterian 4 

• The Spartans and the Blue Hose started slow, scoring only four points each in the first four minutes. 

• Both teams went scoreless for the next three and a half minutes (4-4). 

• In the final two and a half minutes of play, Upstate was able to go on an eight-point scoring run to lead 12-4 after the first quarter. 

Second Quarter: Upstate 26; Presbyterian 26 

• Upstate continued to run the game, outscoring Presbyterian 9-7 in the first four minutes of the second quarter (21-11). 

• Both teams went scoreless for the next minute before the Blue Hose were able to outscore the Spartans by one point (26-17). 

• In the final three minutes of the half, Presbyterian was able to fend off the Spartans' offense while stacking nine points to tie the game before the halftime break (26-26). 

Third Quarter: Upstate 44; Presbyterian 43 

• Coming out of the break, both teams stayed deadlocked in a tie with both teams scoring six points in the first three minutes of the third quarter (32-32). 

• Upstate and Presbyterian went on a scoreless run for the next minute and a half until PC was able to get the scoring going again with Upstate right behind it.  

• With shots from distance and 10 points added to the board, Upstate was able to get a slight lead over Presbyterian until the final 90 seconds of the quarter (41-38). 

• The Blue Hose tied the game 41-41 and even took the lead 43-41 before a Fray-Chinn jump shot from distance gave the Spartans the edge (44-43).  

Fourth Quarter: Upstate 62; Presbyterian 58 

• The Spartans extended their lead to start the final quarter, with six points in the first minute (50-43). 

• Over the next three minutes, the Blue Hose were able to keep the game within five points after outscoring the Spartans 9-7. 

• Both teams hit a drought on offense once again until Upstate got things going again with two minutes left in the game (59-52). 

• In the final minutes, the Spartans were able to fend off the Blue Hose' offense and achieve a four-point win (62-58). 

Notable 

• Jeni Levine led the Spartans' offense with 13 points which was her 10th game scoring in double figures.  

• This was Levine's second straight game scoring 13 points.  

• Trinity Johnson helped the Spartans on offense with 12 points. This was Johnson's 10th game scoring in double figures.  

• Johnson led the team in assists (8) for the 16th game of the season. 

• Zora Fray-Chinn led the team in rebounds for the first time this season as she tied her career high for rebounds for the third time (7). 

Up Next for the Spartans  
Upstate gets ready to go back on the road to take on fellow top Big South contender Radford Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Virginia.  

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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