SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Returning to competition for the first time following the university's exam week, USC Upstate women's basketball battled Samford in the final of three straight games against SoCon foes. The Spartans held the advantage at the break but fell 74-67 to the Bulldogs Sunday afternoon at the G.B. Hodge Center.
 
Upstate won the battle on the glass against the Bulldogs, grabbing 46 rebounds to Samford's 32 as the Spartans recorded 40-plus boards in a game for the fourth time this season. For the second time this year, multiple Spartans recorded double-digit rebounds as graduate student forward Aijah Palmore and redshirt junior Vera Söderblom recorded season-high totals of 14 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Redshirt sophomore forward Emma Blair corralled a season-best six boards as the trio of post players combined for 30 of Upstate's 46 rebounds.
 
Heading the Spartan scoring effort, Palmore poured in a career-high 17 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. Pairing her career-high scoring total with her season-best 14 boards, she secured her second double-double of the campaign, her first since a 10-point, 10-rebound performance versus Morehead State on Nov. 22.
 
Redshirt sophomore guard Cassie Gallagher and redshirt junior guard Aubrie Kierscht joined Palmore in double-figures, offering 14 and 11 markers, respectively.
 
Game Information
Score: Samford 74; USC Upstate 67
Records: USC Upstate (4-8; 0-0 Big South); Samford (5-8; 0-0 SoCon)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Beginning the day's scoring, Samford took the opening tap and hit a three on its first possession. Undeterred, Upstate responded with a triple from Cassie Gallager, swinging momentum towards the Spartans.
• Answering another Bulldog lead, the Spartans fashioned their longest scoring stretch of the game, rattling off eight consecutive markers. A layup—off an assist from Lexi Castator—from Vera Söderblom kickstarted the run before Castator knocked down a three and Aijah Palmore completed a three-point play, delivering Upstate a lead it would not relinquish the remainder of the half.

Second Quarter

• Upon seeing Samford pull within one late in the first quarter, Upstate spanned the period break with five straight markers, capped by a trey from Aubrie Kierscht to begin the scoring in the second. Four straight points from the Bulldogs followed, pulling the game to a single possession.
• Starting a 7-0 scoring run to stretch the Spartans' lead to nine—their largest of the afternoon—Gallagher knocked down her second three of the afternoon. Söderblom followed with consecutive field goals to conclude the run. A Samford three-pointer snapped Upstate's scoring run, but a pull-up from Castator extended the advantage back to eight, ultimately hitting seven at the break.

Third Quarter

• Erasing the Spartans' halftime lead, Samford notched the first seven markers of the second half, tied for its longest scoring run of the afternoon. Castator knocked down another field goal to push Upstate back out front before the Bulldogs hit a three to retake the lead for the first time since the first quarter.
• Growing their lead, Upstate fashioned a 5-0 scoring spurt behind a traditional three-point play from Palmore and a floater from Kierscht. A second 7-0 scoring run from Samford allowed the Bulldogs to regain the advantage, growing to an 11-2 scoring stretch as the quarter dwindled.

Fourth Quarter

• Beginning the final quarter of play, the two sides traded scores over the opening four or so minutes of the frame, seeing the lead grow no further than five in favor of the Bulldogs. Samford began growing its advantage with a pair of triples, part of a larger 11-2 scoring run, upping the advantage to 11 markers.
• Over the final three minutes of regulation, Upstate began chipping away, outpacing Samford 9-5 during the span. Kierscht knocked down a three with five seconds left, trimming the deficit to seven.

 
Notable

• Recording 17 points and 14 rebounds, Aijah Palmore secured her second double-double of the season, her first since Nov. 22, against Morehead State. Her 14 rebounds, a season-high, mark her fourth double-digit rebounding game of the season.
• Sunday's game featured a pair of double-digit rebounders for the Spartans as Palmore grabbed 14 boards and Vera Söderblom pulled in 10 rebounds. The game is the second this season to feature multiple Spartans with double-digit boards, joining Upstate's contest versus Montreat on Nov. 25

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Closing the team's three-game homestand, USC Upstate hits the floor for the penultimate time in the club's non-conference schedule, hosting Agnes Scott in the Spartans' final home game ahead of Big South play. The Spartans and Scotties tip off at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 17 as part of Upstate's Education Day festivities.
 
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