SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's basketball program collected its 10th Big South win of the season after downing conference opponent Gardner-Webb University 73-56 at home on Saturday afternoon. 

Gardner-Webb tried to get a jump on USC Upstate, keeping it a close game early on until the Spartans found some rhythm and ran away with the lead. After being tied 10-10 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter, Upstate stacked 11 points and held Gardner-Webb to just one point for the remainder of the quarter to establish a 10-point lead. Rebekah Gordon led the Spartans through the first quarter with seven points while AC Markham and Trinity Johnson tallied four apiece. The first quarter saw the Spartans go 57.1% from the field, scoring eight points in the paint and eight points off Gardner-Webb turnovers, while only giving up 11 points.  

Upstate continued its success on offense while also having an impressive defensive showing and reaching at one point a quarter-high 20-point lead. The Spartans extended their lead to 19 points by halftime while also holding the Runnin' Bulldogs to only seven points scored. Dakota Reeves led the team on offense with six points after finding success from distance. The Spartans went 5-15 in the second quarter compared to the Runnin' Bulldogs' 3-14, while also boasting a 50.0% three-point percentage. Upstate capitalized on turnovers yet again as well as taking advantage of second chance opportunities. At the break, Gordon led the team with eight points while Markham, Reeves, and Johnson sat with six apiece. West led the team in rebounds with six while Johnson led in assists with three.  

Coming out of the halftime break, the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to outscore the Spartans but only by one three-pointer (22-19). Jeni Levine had an impressive quarter, scoring nearly half of Upstate's 19 points (9) while also making two steals. West and Gordon also contributed four points each towards the Spartans' total. Levine went 4-4 from the field while West went 2-2. Upstate found its success in the paint with 10 points along with three points on the fast break and three points off second chances. The Spartans found their way back to precision with shooting, going 53.3% from the field (8-15) and while also going 50.0% from the free throw line.  

In the final quarter, Upstate was back to business, outscoring Gardner-Webb to ensure a home win regardless of going into the final 10 minutes with a 16-point lead. Gordon and Fray-Chinn helped secure the win with six points each as Gordon went 2-2 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line and Fray-Chinn went 2-3 from the field and 2-2 from the three-point arc. Both teams went 40.0% from the field (6-15) but it was Upstate's ability to remain composed at the free throw line that won the quarter for the Spartans. Gordon, Levine, West, and Fray-Chinn finished the game scoring in double figures; West nearly hit her third double-double of the season as she collected nine boards as well against the Runnin' Bulldogs.  

 
Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 73; Garnder-Webb 56 
Records: USC Upstate (15-11; 10-3 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (4-21; 3-9 Big South)  
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.    

How It Happened: 

First Quarter: Upstate 21; Gardner-Webb 11 

• Despite Gardner-Webb getting the first points, Upstate was able to come back and keep the game close as the teams sat tied 6-6 after the first four minutes. 

• Both teams stacked another four points to make the game 10-10 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.  

• The next minute saw Upstate go on a nine-point scoring run to give Upstate the edge just before the second quarter. 

• Upstate finished the first quarter with an additional two points as Gardner-Webb finished with one more point as well (21-11). 

Second Quarter: Upstate 37; Gardner-Webb 18 

• Both teams had a three and a half minute scoring drought to begin the second quarter.  

• Upstate broke the scoring drought with a free throw and went on to stack five points while holding Gardner-Webb scoreless until the four and half minute mark (26-13). 

• The next two minutes saw the Spartans outscore the Runnin' Bulldogs 9-2 for a 20-point lead with two minutes remaining in the half.  

• In the final two minutes of the half, Upstate added two to its total while Gardner-Webb hit one from distance to cut Upstate's lead to 19 points.  

Third Quarter: Upstate 56; Garder-Webb 40  

• Coming out of the break, Upstate added another four points compared to Gardner-Webb's five points (41-23). 

• Over the next three minutes, a shot from distance helped Upstate keep its distance from the Bulldogs, outscoring them 7-4 (48-27).  

• The next three minutes saw the Bulldogs outscore the Spartans 10-2 to bring the game within 13 points. 

• The Spartans extended their lead to 16 points after six points in the final two minutes, compared to the Bulldogs' three.  

Fourth Quarter: Upstate 73; Gardner-Webb 73  

• After two scoreless minutes, Gardner-Webb went on a six-point scoring spree which was stopped with two points from Upstate (58-46). 

• The next three minutes saw nine points for the hosting Spartans and seven points for the visiting Bulldogs to keep Upstate leading by 15 points. 

• In the final two minutes Upstate tallied five points next to Gardner-Webb's three points for a 73-56 win for the Spartans.  

Notable 

• Rebekah Gordon had her 11th game of the season scoring in double figures after posting 18 points against Gardner-Webb. 

• Gordon tied her season-high for points with 18 against GWU; her previous high was set against North Florida (11/25/23). 

• Zora Fray-Chinn had her second game of the season scoring in double figures with 11 against GWU. 

• Isabell West had her 16th game of the season scoring in double figures with the 10 points she scored on Saturday. 

• Jeni Levine had her 11th game of the season scoring in double figures after scoring 12 points against GWU. 

Up Next for the Spartans  
The Spartans will head to the coast to take on Charleston Southern on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in the second to last away game of the regular season.  
 

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