CLINTON, S.C. – On the road for the second conference game of the season, USC Upstate women's basketball faced the Presbyterian College Blue Hose this evening. Despite the outstanding effort from the Spartans, they fell just short of the Blue Hose 59-58.

Tonight's game saw the return of senior forward Rebekah Gordon, who set a new season-high of six made field goals and led all Spartans in points with 13. Gordon also added four rebounds and one steal.

For the third straight contest, redshirt freshman guard Cassie Gallagher reached double-digit scoring with 12 points. Making four field goals, she also grabbed five boards and was perfect from the free-throw line.

Both Gracie Barnes and Jeni Levine added eight points and two assists for the Spartans.

Game Information
Score: Presbyterian 59; USC Upstate 58
Records: USC Upstate (3-12; 0-2 Big South); Presbyterian (3-13; 1-2 Big South)
Location: Templeton Center | Clinton, S.C.

How It Happened
First Quarter

• Upstate won the tip, opening scoring with a jumper from Gracie Barnes. Ava Miller then added a layup to put the score at 4-0 almost a minute later.
• Presbyterian responded with a jumper, but the Spartans continued their momentum fueled by AC Markham with a layup, followed by a pair of free throws by Barnes to extend the lead 8-2.
• The Spartans used a 6-4 run to close out the first 20-13.

Second Quarter

• The Spartans opened the second quarter from the charity stripe, extending the lead 23-14. The Blue Hose responded with a three-pointer, but Cassie Gallagher answered right back with a three-pointer of her own.
• A fastbreak layup from Lele Tanuvasa and another layup from Barnes put the Spartans up 30-19. Presbyterian made a layup, but it was Upstate who ended the quarter off a 17-7 run with baskets from Gwen Jenkins, Rebekah Gordan, Vera Soderblom, and Olivia Forester.

Third Quarter

• Presbyterian scored first out of the halftime break, but Jeni Levine answered with a jumper.
• Both teams traded baskets to finish out the third, with Markham hitting her second field goal of the night.

Fourth Quarter

• The Blue Hose fought back, using a 9-1 run in the closing minute of the period to walk away with a one-point win.

Notable

• This game marks Cassie Gallagher's ninth this season scoring in double-figures. With 10 or more points in three straight games, the stretch ties the longest of her career.
• Rebekah Gordon has reached double-digit scoring in six out of nine games this season.

Up Next for the Spartans
The Spartans remain on the road, facing Radford for their third conference game of the season on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. ET.

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