ROCK HILL, S.C. – Displaying what has become a hallmark of the 2024-25 season, USC Upstate women's basketball showed its resiliency with a gritty performance as it battled back against a lengthy Winthrop run in the fourth quarter, retaking the lead with an extended scoring run of its own to capture a 52-48 victory Saturday afternoon inside the Winthrop Coliseum.
 
Leading the Spartans in scoring in consecutive games for the first time this season, junior guard Jeni Levine posted double-figures for the second straight contest with a team-best 12 markers. Hitting all six of her attempts from the free throw line, she proved crucial in Upstate's fourth-quarter scoring run, knocking down each of her six free throws during the team's 14-0 scoring run in the game's final three minutes—four makes coming in the final 30 seconds.
 
Freshman guard Gwen Jenkins joined Levine in double-figures, scoring 10 points, finishing 3-of-5 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Just shy of a double-double, senior forward Rebekah Gordon corralled a team-high 11 rebounds while chipping in nine points.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 52; Winthrop 48
Records: USC Upstate (6-18; 3-8 Big South); Winthrop (12-12; 6-5 Big South)
Location: Winthrop Coliseum | Rock Hill, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Coming off a jumpball win, Winthrop scored the first five points of the afternoon before a Jeni Levine jumper snapped the scoring run. The Eagles added two more points, building its game-opening scoring stretch to 7-2 before Upstate worked its way back.
• Battling back to take the lead for the first time, the Spartans reeled off 10 straight markers fueled by four points each from Gwen Jenkins and Lele Tanuvasa. Rebekah Gordon added a free throw as the quarter wound down, helping Upstate end the first period on a 13-4 run.

 
Second Quarter

• Adding to its quarter-ending scoring run, Upstate began the second stanza with consecutive field goals, seeing makes from Jenkins and Gordon push the Spartan run to 17-4. Twice, in the game's lowest-scoring quarter, the Spartans grew its advantage to seven, doing so behind a fastbreak layup from Tanuvasa and a three from Cassie Gallagher.

 
Third Quarter

• Starting strong out of the halftime locker room, Upstate began the new half on an 8-2 scoring run, growing its largest lead of the day at eight points. Gracie Barnes paced the Spartans in the stretch, hitting consecutive field goals to begin the team's 6-0 scoring run.
• Fighting back to take its first lead since the 3:51 mark of the first quarter, Winthrop fashioned a 12-2 scoring stretch capped by an 8-0 scoring run to swing the advantage in its favor. Jenkins knocked down a pair of free throws to knot the game at 34 heading into the final quarter.

 
Fourth Quarter

• Upstate opened the final period with the quarter's opening points, allowing it to maintain a slight advantage in the first two minutes of the quarter. Winthrop, however, crafted its longest scoring run of the day, reeling off 11 straight points to build a nine-point lead.
• Holding the Eagles without a field goal over the final 3:56 of regulation, the Spartans built their longest scoring stretch of the day, erasing the nine-point deficit and building insurance with a 14-0 scoring. The free throw line proved the difference in the stretch with Upstate hitting all eight of its free throw attempts.

 
Notable

• Pulling in a team-high 11 rebounds, Rebekah Gordon notched her sixth double-digit rebounding game of the year. She finished just shy of her fourth double-double, scoring nine points.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
On the back end of its two-game road swing, USC Upstate continues the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series with a trip into the mountains, taking on UNC Asheville. Tip-off features at 6:30 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.