CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Playing away from home for the seventh time during the team's non-conference slate, USC Upstate women's basketball captured its first road win of the season Wednesday afternoon, besting Western Carolina 55-44 inside the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C. Upstate won the rebounding battle, owning a 52-30 edge on the glass en route to victory.
 
The Spartans' +22 mark on the glass stands as its third game with a rebounding margin greater than 20, the team's best since also posting a +22 margin versus Presbyterian on Jan. 8, 2025. Corralling a game-high 13 rebounds, graduate student forward Aijah Palmore notched a career-high rebounding total with her third double-digit rebounding game of the season. Overall, seven Spartans concluded the day with five or more rebounds.
 
The lone Spartan in double-figures on the scoring side of the box score, redshirt sophomore guard Cassie Gallagher posted her sixth straight double-figure scoring game with a game-best 19 markers. She finished the day 5-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from three while adding five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Gwen Jenkins nearly joined Gallagher in double-figures, posting a season-high nine points, pairing with six rebounds.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 55; Western Carolina 44
Records: USC Upstate (4-6; 0-0 Big South); Western Carolina (2-8; 0-0 SoCon)
Location: Ramsey Center | Cullowhee, N.C.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Jumping out to an early advantage, Western Carolina notched the first 11 markers of the day, building their lead into the game's first media stoppage. Upstate snapped the Catamounts' longest scoring run with a three-pointer out of the corner from Cassie Gallagher.
• The Spartans dug into the deficit with a 5-0 run to close the first frame, shortening the lead to five at the buzzer. A driving layup from Gwen Jenkins preceded a Gallagher three—off an assist from Jenkins—to create the run.

 
Second Quarter

• Upstate, drawing closer, pulled the margin within four, using a 4-0 scoring run to counter a pair of Catamount free throws to begin the second frame. Following a Western Carolina three to end the Spartans' run, Upstate used its high-low game to get back-to-back buckets from Emma Blair with assists from Zora Fray-Chinn, forcing a Western Carolina timeout.
• Building upon the momentum of the back-to-back field goals, Upstate held the Catamounts without a field goal for the remainder of the half. The Spartans closed the half on a 7-0 scoring run, kickstarted by a Lexi Castator three, grabbing the lead with 39 seconds remaining in the first half.

 
Third Quarter

• Seeing Western Carolina tie the game with a pair of free throws out of the halftime locker room, Jenkins reeled off five straight Upstate markers, including a three-pointer, to extend Upstate's advantage. Fray-Chinn countered a Catamount answer with five straight points of her own, growing the advantage again.
• Western Carolina drew back within one behind a pair of triples as the ticks dwindled on the third-quarter clock. Upstate, however, responded, notching the final four points of the quarter from the free throw line courtesy of Gallagher.

 
Fourth Quarter

• Spanning the quarter break, Upstate fashioned its longest scoring run of the afternoon, a 9-0 scoring run, as Gallagher and Castator marked the first five points of the final frame. Holding Western Carolina without a field goal for nine-plus minutes dating back to the third quarter, the Spartans added field goals from Blair and Gallagher—a triple.
• Building its largest lead of the afternoon at 15 points, Upstate reeled off eight straight markers late in the fourth quarter. Six straight free throw makes by the Spartans followed a Gallagher jumper to create the stretch. The Catamounts pulled the lead to 11 with the final four points of the day.

 
Notable

• Best Western Carolina by 22 rebounds Wednesday, Upstate's rebounding margin stands as its third greater than 20 boards this season. The Spartans' +22 rebounding margin is its best against a Division I opponent since beating Presbyterian by 22 on the glass on Jan. 8, 2025.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Continuing its stretch of contests against SoCon foes, USC Upstate returns home to the G.B. Hodge Center Saturday, hosting UNC Greensboro. The "Battle of the Spartans" tips off at 4:30 p.m. ET as the back half of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader.
 
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