SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Head coach Jason Williams and the USC Upstate women's basketball staff announced the addition of three final Spartans to cap the now 16-woman roster for the 2024-2025 season. Coach Williams and the staff see 10 Spartans return while adding two transfers and four freshmen.  
 
Williams expressed his enthusiasm for the 2024-2025 team saying, "As we look to build on one of the most successful seasons in program history, we knew it was important that we brought in a mix of character and talent to add to the already signed and returning group of players that we are very excited about. Our staff felt we did exactly that by adding these three amazing young women to our Spartan family as they all possess great basketball skill but more importantly the high character that is the foundation of our program." 

Olivia "Liv" Forster – 5'6, Guard, Freshman (Oldham, Greater Manchester) 

Liv Forster comes to Spartanburg after graduating from Copleston High School. While attending Copleston, Forster spent three seasons playing for the WEABL (British College League) where she averaged no less than 16.1 points per game all three years, including averaging 23.5 points per game during the 2022-2023 season. In addition to her scoring ability, Forster averaged no less than 3.8 assists per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 2.6 steals per game in her three seasons of competing. Forster played for a number of teams before committing to Upstate including the Manchester Mystic Basketball Club, Ipswich Basketball Club, England's Under 14's, 15's, 16's, and 18's teams, and Great Britain's Under 16's, 18's, and 20's teams, all of which she was a captain for. Over the last three years, Forster led her team to become 2x-WEABL Runners-Up, 1x WEABL Champions, and National Runners-Up while earning League MVP honors and being named to the All-Souther Conference First Team for three consecutive seasons.  

"Liv is a young lady that walks in the door as a freshman with a lot of experience. She has not only played at a high level but has excelled for years now in the WNBL, WEABL, and for her National Team. Liv brings a high IQ, a very strong work ethic, high character, and very valuable experience. As excited as we are about who Liv is as a player, we are even more excited about who Liv is as a person. She is a natural leader who will help us continue to progress our culture forward! Liv is also someone who has been well prepared for this level as she has been coached by an exceptional coach in Nick Drane with Ipswich Basketball. Our staff is elated to add someone of Liv's talent and character to our family." 

Aubrie Kierscht – 5'6, Guard, Junior (Salina, Kansas) 

Aubrie Kierscht comes to Spartanburg after spending her freshman and sophomore seasons at Presbyterian College, where she averaged 8.7 points per game and received Big South All-Freshman Team honors and helped the Blue Hose win the Big South Basketball Championship. Prior to her time at Presbyterian College, Kierscht graduated from Salina Central High School where she played basketball for four seasons and set a state record for points with 1,685 career points, which included 317 career three-pointers, 113 of which came in a single season. Kierscht also had a season high of 40 points in a single game along with 518 points in a single season. Her 2021 season, Kierscht led the Mustangs to being ranked third in the state only to lead them to become ranked second in the state the following season. Her efforts earned Kierscht the honor of both Miss Kansas Basketball Player of the Year and Central Kansas 5A Player of the Year.  

"When it comes to fit, Aubrie checks every box for us. Aubrie is a player who possesses a high IQ and feel for the game but also has the ability to score the ball at a high level. Off the court Aubrie is a young lady who aligns perfectly with what we stand for as a program through her high character and her relentless work ethic. Aubrie is also a player who has experienced a lot of success in the Big South. She is a player our staff became a fan of from first competing against her, so it feels good to know she will be in a Spartan jersey for the next three years. We are extremely excited to add someone with Aubrie's character, talent, work ethic, and experience to our family." 

Saulele "Lele" Tanuvasa – 6'0, Guard, Sophomore (Eureka, CA) 

Lele Tanuvasa comes to Spartanburg after spending her freshman season at the University of Colorado. Prior to her time at the University of Colorado, Tanuvasa graduated from St. Mary's High School and St. Bernard's Academy, where she competed in basketball, volleyball, and soccer. She was named the 2021 Humboldt Sports Female Athlete of the Year. As a senior, Tanuvasa averaged 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds across 34 games played. Her 2022 season, she was named to the All-Conference Second Team and was the 2022 Humboldt Del Norte League MVP for both basketball and volleyball. Tanuvasa was also competed for the Eureka Beasts, Lady Elite, and West Coast Elite.  

"Lele is a very special player that Spartan nation is going to love watching for the next four years. Lele is a dynamic playmaker who adds a unique combination of athleticism, scoring, and IQ to our roster. Lele is also a culture fit for us as she is someone with great character but also a work ethic and drive to want to be the best. Lele is a player we recruited initially out of high school and knew then that she could make a huge impact on our program, so it is exciting to know we have four more years with her after she spent this past year redshirting with an Elite 8 program. She is also another player who comes to us well prepared for this level after being coached by Coach Tet with West Coast Elite. We are elated to add someone with Lele's skillset, versatility, motor, work ethic, and character to our family." 

The Upstate Spartans will make their first appearance as a team during USC Upstate's annual Morgan Square Madness event October 3, 2024 in downtown Spartanburg, S.C. 

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