ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Rekindling the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series after returning from the team's first bye of its Big South Conference slate, USC Upstate women's basketball displayed grit and toughness, erasing a deficit that had grown as large as 19 to put itself in a position to win or head to overtime at the final buzzer. The Spartans fought, ultimately, falling 57-56 to UNC Asheville Wednesday evening.
 
Seeing the Bulldogs extend their lead to 19 with consecutive baskets to begin the second half, Upstate showed its resolve, outscoring its foe 36-18 over the final 19-and-a-half minutes of the contest. Part of her game-high 20 points, redshirt sophomore guard Cassie Gallagher dropped 16 of her markers in the second half. She finished the night potting 10-of-19 attempts from the field, shooting 8-of-10 from the field in the final 20 minutes. Her 20-point effort stands as her sixth of the season and her third such effort in the past four games.
 
Also in double-figures, redshirt junior Aubrie Kierscht totaled 11 markers, nine in the second half with all 11 coming in the final 21 minutes of game action. Graduate student forward Aijah Palmore finished with nine points and 10 rebounds, nearly earning her fourth double-double of the campaign.
 
On the glass, Upstate fashioned a +9 margin on the glass, outrebounding UNC Asheville 35-26. The Spartans' rebounding margin extends a streak of six straight games, all in Big South Conference play, where they have won the rebounding margin, outrebounding their opponents by no fewer than eight boards during league play.
 
Game Information
Score: UNC Asheville 57; USC Upstate 56
Records: USC Upstate (6-14; 1-5 Big South); UNC Asheville (8-12; 3-4 Big South)
Location: Kimmel Arena | Asheville, N.C.
 
How It Happened
First Quarter

• Taking the opening tap, UNC Asheville broke the seal on the game's scoring before Aijah Palmore answered with the Spartans' first bucket. The Bulldogs added the next two field goals, notching the lone scoring run of the opening period.
• Following the successive UNC Asheville buckets, Upstate outscored its foe 9-6 over the remainder of the quarter, pulling to within one at the break. Cassie Gallagher, Gwen Jenkins, Palmore, and Kinley Paterson each scored in the stretch with Jenkins hitting the frame's lone triple.

Second Quarter

• Beginning the second frame, the Bulldogs struck first, but Paterson offered a quick retort, knifing to the hoop for a layup. UNC Asheville countered with the half's first extended scoring run, reeling off eight straight points powered by a pair of threes.
• Palmore snapped the run, crashing the boards and converting the old-fashioned three-point play. The Bulldogs added another extended scoring stretch later in the period, stringing together the half's longest run with nine consecutive markers. Aubrie Kierscht knocked down a floater at the buzzer to end the run.

Third Quarter

• Lengthening its advantage out of the halftime locker room, UNC Asheville tallied the first five points of the second half, growing its lead to 19, the largest of the game. Upstate responded with five markers of its own, getting a traditional three-point play from Vera Söderblom and a layup from Gallagher.
• A 6-0 Spartan run later in the quarter helped chip away at the Bulldog advantage as Kierscht sandwiched a Gallagher bucket to fashion the run. A 5-0 UNC Asheville run followed before the Spartans notched the final four points of the frame to trim the lead to 11.

Fourth Quarter

• Spanning the quarter break, Upstate extended its scoring stretch to six straight markers, cutting its disadvantage to single digits with a Gallagher layup. The two sides traded baskets following the Gallagher field goal, evening the quarter scoring at four apiece.
• A Kierscht triple, Upstate's second trey of the evening, ignited a 7-0 scoring run, the Spartans' longest of the evening. Gallagher closed the run with successive layups, helping trim the lead to four.
• Following a Bulldog three-pointer, Upstate closed the game outscoring its opponent by an 8-2 margin, trimming the final score to a one-point game.

 
Notable

• Outrebounding UNC Asheville 35-26, Upstate's +9 margin on the glass extended its streak of consecutive games winning the rebounding margin to six, encompassing each of the team's Big South games. The Spartans have fashioned a rebounding margin no smaller than +8 in all six of their league contests.
• Scoring 20 points against the Bulldogs, Cassie Gallagher extended Upstate's streak of games with at least one 20-point scorer to four games, the longest stretch under head coach Jason Williams. The streak is the longest since notching a 20-points scorer in each of the final six games of the 2021-22 season.
• Wednesday's game marked the first in six league games to see Upstate not lead.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Remaining on the road, USC Upstate heads to the Old Dominion for the first time this year, travelling to Longwood for a Friday meeting. The Spartans and Lancers match up for a 2 p.m. ET tip with the game moved up a day to avoid potential inclement weather expected this weekend.
 
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!