SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Finishing a two-game homestand, the team's penultimate homestand of the 2024-25 campaign, USC Upstate women's basketball succumbed Wednesday evening in a 68-51 decision to Presbyterian at the G.B. Hodge Center.
 
Entering the game off her first two career double-figure scoring games, redshirt sophomore forward Vera Soderblom fashioned her first career double-digit rebounding game, pacing all players on the glass with 13 boards. Beginning the game with an individual game-high of seven rebounds, she split her 13 boards evenly on the offensive and defensive glass, pulling in six and seven, respectively.
 
Marking in double-figures for the seventh time this season, junior guard Jeni Levine notched a team-high 14 points, finishing the evening 5-of-9 from the field. She complemented her scoring total with five rebounds and two assists. Redshirt freshman guard Cassie Gallagher—for the 14^th time this season—scored in double-figures, joining Levine with 12 markers.
 
Game Information
Score: Presbyterian 68; USC Upstate 51
Records: USC Upstate (5-18; 2-8 Big South); Presbyterian (5-18; 3-7 Big South)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Starting the game with an administrative technical, USC Upstate began the game with a 2-0 lead at the opening tip. For much of the first quarter, the two sides remained neck-and-neck, with neither side stringing together consecutive scoring positions until after the media stoppage. The quarter ended knotted at 9-9.

 
Second Quarter

• Adding to its bucket to end the first period, Presbyterian opened the new stanza with its first five points, fashioning a 7-0 scoring run, the longest in the game to that point. Upstate responded with threes from Olivia Forster and Cassie Gallagher to regain the lead with 6:36 to play before the half.
• Responding to the treys from the Spartans, the Blue Hose crafted the night's longest scoring run, reeling off a 13-0 scoring run to push the advantage to double-digits for the first and final time. Presbyterian closed the half on a 19-4 scoring stretch, holding Upstate without a field goal for over six minutes during its extended scoring run.

 
Third Quarter

• Coming out of the locker room, Upstate collected the first four points of the new half behind jumpers from Jeni Levine and Gracie Barnes. The Blue Hose followed with a 9-0 scoring run before Gallagher snapped the run with a three-ball. The scoring stretch from Presbyterian grew as wide as 17-4 as the quarter waned.

 
Fourth Quarter

• Seeing the Presbyterian lead grow as large as 26, Upstate fashioned its longest scoring run of the day, notching eight straight markers into the quarter's media stoppage. Following the Blue Hose's consecutive field goals before the Spartan scoring run began, Upstate doubled up the Blue Hose to the final buzzer, trimming the margin to 17.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Coming off its two-game homestand, USC Upstate embarks on a two-game road swing, beginning Saturday at Winthrop. Tip-off between the Spartans and Eagles is set for 2 p.m. ET.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateWBB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateWBB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
 
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!
 
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.