Vera Soderblom Into Timeout vs. Radford 4Q 2025
Natalia Moll
65
Winner Radford Rad 9-13,6-3 Big South
59
USC Upstate USCU 5-17,2-7 Big South
Winner
Radford Rad
9-13,6-3 Big South
65
Final
59
USC Upstate USCU
5-17,2-7 Big South
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Radford Rad 16 11 12 16 10 65
USC Upstate USCU 10 17 17 11 4 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Vera Soderblom Hits Double-Figures for the Second Straight Game as Women's Basketball Heads to Overtime Against Radford

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Facing unfamiliar territory as it embarked on an overtime period for the first time during the 2024-25 season, USC Upstate women's basketball remained determined as it sought a comeback victory Saturday evening against Radford. In their first overtime game in nearly a calendar year—coincidentally the Spartans' last overtime game came in the second meeting with the Highlanders on Feb. 3, 2024—the Spartans dropped the decision 65-59.
 
Following up her first career double-figure scoring effort with a career-high 15 points Wednesday at Charleston Southern, redshirt sophomore forward Vera Soderblom wasted no time securing her next double-figure game, dropping a team-best 12 points versus Radford. She finished the evening hitting six of nine attempts from the field (66.7 percent), tying her career-high for field goals made with six while tying her season-high with a team-best seven rebounds.
 
Redshirt freshman guard Cassie Gallagher joined Soderblom in double-figures, turning in 11 markers for her team-leading 13th double-figure scoring game of the 2024-25 season, knocking down a team-high three triples. Knocking on the door of double-figures, freshman guard Gwen Jenkins and freshman forward Ava Miller notched eight and seven points, respectively.
 
Game Information
Score: Radford 65; USC Upstate 59 (OT)
Records: USC Upstate (5-17; 2-7 Big South); Radford (9-13; 6-3 Big South)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter
  • Taking the opening tap, Radford jumped out to an early advantage, scoring the first eight points of the game, forcing Upstate to call an early timeout three minutes into the contest. The Spartans settled out of the timeout, whittling the deficit with six of the next eight markers.
  • Crafting the game's largest lead, the Highlanders countered Upstate cutting the lead to four with back-to-back threes, pushing the advantage to 10 with 1:21 to play in the quarter. Upstate answered with a Vera Soderblom layup off an assist from Gwen Jenkins before Jenkins knifed to the basket for a layup of her own.
 
Second Quarter
  • Adding to its spurt to end the opening period, Upstate fashioned the game's longest scoring run (10-0) with the first six points of the new quarter, tying the game for the first time. Radford snapped the stretch with a free throw and three-pointer to stay just ahead of the Spartans as the quarter wound.
  • Battling back from a four-point deficit, Upstate strung together a quarter-long 7-0 scoring run spurred by five markers from Ava Miller, including a three from the wing. Ending the half, Radford nailed a three of its own, sending the game to the break 27-all.
 
Third Quarter
  • Striking out of the halftime locker room, Cassie Gallagher collected the first five markers of the half with a three and driving layup delivering Upstate the lead once again. The Spartans held the advantage throughout the period behind the three-ball as three of their first four field goals on the quarter came from beyond the arc.
  • As Radford started chipping away at the Upstate lead, Upstate kept building back its advantage as the quarter went on. The Highlanders cut the lead to three with a minute remaining in the stanza before a Jenkins jumper extended the lead at the quarter break.
 
Fourth Quarter
  • Growing their lead to its largest at nine points, the Spartans opened the final quarter of regulation with the first four points. Radford responded with the next nine, including consecutive threes as the quarter hit the halfway points—cutting the Spartan lead to one and forcing a timeout.
  • Gallagher put Upstate ahead with a three following the 48-48 tie before successive field goals from Radford returned the lead to the Highlanders. Battling back as regulation waned, Soderblom hit a pair of layups, her final one in regulation coming with 28 seconds to knot the game at 55 and send it to overtime.
 
Overtime
  • Opening the extra period, Radford notched the first three points and didn't look back, outpacing Upstate 10-4 to escape with the six-point victory.
 
Notable
  • Facing overtime for the first time during the 2024-25 season, USC Upstate played its first overtime game since Feb. 3, 2024, when Upstate went to the extra period in its second meeting with Radford.
  • Passing out 17 assists, Upstate tied its season-high for assists against a Division I opponent this season, doing so for the second straight contest. Over its past two games, Upstate has dished out 34 assists, the team's most in a two-game span this season. Over the past three contests, the Spartans total 50 assists.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Continuing its two-game homestand to open the month of February, USC Upstate hosts regional rival Presbyterian Wednesday at the G.B. Hodge Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
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Ingles I-26 Rivalry Food Drive: Support Miracle Hill Ministries in Spartanburg by donating to the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series Food Drive through Wednesday, February 12.  All donations stay local and donors may scan the QR code on donation bins for a free ticket to an upcoming Upstate basketball game.  For donation locations and more information, click here.
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