KENNESAW, Ga. – Facing a former ASUN conference mate in the first meeting between the two clubs since the Spartans' departure for the Big South Conference, USC Upstate women's basketball fought valiantly in its first outing post-Thanksgiving, battling Kennesaw State Friday evening. The Spartans, falling behind no more than 12 points until the final minute, dropped a 55-41 decision to the Owls.
 
Leading the Spartans in the scoring column for the fourth straight outing, redshirt sophomore Cassie Gallagher upped her season scoring average with 17 points behind 6-of-15 shooting (3-of-6 from three). The Big South's leader in three-pointers made, she canned three against Kennesaw State, her fourth game with three or more made treys this season.
 
Joining Gallagher in double-figures, redshirt sophomore forward Emma Blair offered a season-best 12 markers, finishing 5-of-10 from the floor. She's scored nine-plus points in three of the last four games for Upstate, shooting 50.0 percent or greater from the field in all four contests.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans stepped up to draw a season-high five charges, headed by their two double-figure scorers, Blair and Gallagher, who drew two apiece. Gallagher leads Upstate with five of the team's 15 drawn charges this season.
 
Game Information
Score: Kennesaw State 55; USC Upstate 41
Records: USC Upstate (3-6; 0-0 Big South); Kennesaw State (4-2; 0-0 CUSA)
Location: VyStar Arena | Kennesaw, Ga.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Despite seeing the Spartans take the opening tap, Kennesaw State jumped out to the early advantage, registering the game's first four markers. Upstate countered, tying the game behind a Vera Söderblom putback and Aijah Palmore jumper at the 7:07 mark of the opening frame.
• The Owls broke the deadlock with an 8-0 scoring run—the longest run of the first half—before Emma Blair snapped the run with a layup. Kennesaw State, however, extended their scoring stretch to 12-2, opening a 16-6 lead with 2:24 to play in the stanza. Cassie Gallagher closed the period on a personal 7-0 scoring run, the Spartans' longest scoring run of the half, trimming the Owl lead to three at the horn.

 
Second Quarter

• Responding to Gallagher's 7-0 run, Kennesaw State offered a 7-0 run of its own to begin the second quarter. Söderblom snapped the streak with a pair of free throws before the two sides traded buckets into the media stoppage.
• A pair of Owl layups pushed the lead to 12 with 3:45 to play before the half, the largest lead for Kennesaw State in the opening half. The Spartans held the Owls without a field goal for the final 3:45 of the second stanza, notching the final four points behind a Zoe Richardson mid-range jumper and Blair layup.

 
Third Quarter

• Continuing to chip away at the Owl advantage, Gallagher knocked down consecutive triples following Kennesaw State's first bucket of the new half. Her back-to-back treys cut the lead to four, the first of three times she'd trim the lead to that mark in the second half.
• Kennesaw State answered with a 6-0 scoring run, expanding its lead back to double-digits. Upstate trimmed the deficit in the quarter's close via a 6-0 run of its own. Kinley Paterson opened the run with a nifty left-hand finish ahead of a pair of Blair free throws before Gallagher capped the run, cutting the deficit to four, with an elbow jumper.

 
Fourth Quarter

• While the Owls began the final period with the first basket, Gallagher countered with her jumper again cutting the lead to four. Kennesaw State answered with an 8-0 scoring run, it's longest of the day, pushing the advantage to 12 with 5:46 to play.
• Upstate, holding the Owls without a field goal for the final 5:46 of regulation, chipped away with a 6-0 run, headed by four markers from Blair and finished with two from Gwen Jenkins. Capping the day's scoring, Kennesaw State scored the final eight points of the game from the free throw line to ice the victory.

 
Notable

• Leading the Spartans with 17 points Friday evening, Cassie Gallagher improved her season scoring average to 16.6 points. Friday's contest marked the third straight game she's increased her scoring average, marking the fourth time in five contests she's accomplished the feat.
• Finishing behind Gallagher in the scoring column, Emma Blair notched her first double-figure scoring game of the season. The game stands as her third career double-figure scoring game, the second-most points she's tallied in a game in her career.
• Increasing the team's season total by 50 percent, Upstate stepped up to draw five charges Friday. The Spartans entered the day with 10 drawn charges on the season. Drawing two of the team's five Friday, Gallagher leads Upstate with five charges drawn this year.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Returning to action, USC Upstate sees its second tip-off time of 11:00 a.m. or earlier of the 2025-26 season, travelling to Western Carolina next Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. ET.
 
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