CLEMSON, S.C. – Beginning the new season in one of the first NCAA women's basketball contests of the 2025-26 campaign, USC Upstate women's basketball put forth a strong second-half effort, battling Clemson Monday morning. The Spartans scored 22 of their 38 points from halftime onward in the 76-38 decision.
 
Six Spartans made their debuts Monday as all 13 available Spartans appeared for Upstate. Eleven Spartans found marks in the scoring column of the box score, headlined by six points apiece from redshirt sophomore forward Emma Blair and redshirt junior guard Aubrie Kierscht, Kierscht knocking down a pair of triples. Overall, Upstate made five threes with sophomore guard Lexi Castator, redshirt sophomore guard Cassie Gallagher, and junior guard Macy Wike joining Kierscht with a trey.
 
Game Information
Score: Clemson 76; USC Upstate 38
Records: USC Upstate (0-1; 0-0 Big South); Clemson (1-0; 0-0 ACC)
Location: Littlejohn Coliseum | Clemson, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Breaking a 6-0 Clemson scoring run, Aijah Palmore drove the lane and laid one home for the Spartans' first bucket of the 2025-26 campaign. Gwen Jenkins followed shortly after with a two-point jumper from the corner to cut the Tiger lead back to four.
• Closing the quarter, Upstate dug into the Clemson lead as Emma Blair fought through contact for her first basket and points of the season. Cutting the lead at the quarter break, Cassie Gallagher sank a wing three, putting the margin at six at the end of one.

 
Second Quarter

• Snapping another Tiger six-point swing to begin a quarter, the Spartans fashioned their first scoring run of the day behind a four-point spurt. Kinley Paterson started the run with a smooth left-hand finish at the rim before Vera Soderblom added two more with a tough finish.
• Posting the day's longest scoring run, Clemson strung together 21 straight markers spanning much of the second half of the second quarter. Breaking the run, Zora Fray-Chinn hit a jumper from the lane, her first points.

 
Third Quarter

• After trading baskets to open the new half, Upstate crafted its longest scoring run of the second half—the first of two 5-0 scoring runs—with Lexi Castator knocking down a triple from the wing to follow a Gallagher layup.
• In the final two minutes of the period, Aubrie Kierscht hit a pair of threes, the first coming from the corner, and the second, off a save from Vera Söderblom as she was falling out of bounds.

 
Fourth Quarter

• Ending a 9-0 Tiger run to begin the fourth quarter, Emma Blair strung together a personal 4-0 scoring run, hitting a pair of hook shots from the edge of the lane. The Spartans' second 5-o scoring run followed a Clemson bucket as Zoe Richardson and Macy Wike pushed the Upstate scoring stretch to a 9-2 margin.

 
Notable

• Opening the new season, six Spartans made their USC Upstate debuts as Lexi Castator, Madison Miller, Aijah Palmore, Kinley Paterson, Zoe Richardson, and Jessa Troy earned their first action in an Upstate uniform.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Off the team's season opener, USC Upstate prepares for its home opener, hosting Erskine Thursday evening. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 6.
 
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