University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
1-1,0-0Big South
Johnson
0-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson (TN) | 15 | 11 | 4 | 21 | 51 |
| USC Upstate | 27 | 12 | 27 | 16 | 82 |
11/4/2026 9:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate women's basketball put together a dominant performance in its home opener Wednesday evening, earning an 82-51 victory over Johnson at the G.B. Hodge Center.
The Spartans (1-1) controlled the contest from the opening tip, jumping out to a 27-15 advantage after the first quarter. Upstate extended its lead to 39-26 at halftime before delivering a decisive third-quarter performance to put the game out of reach.
Upstate opened the contest with a 7-0 run, getting contributions from Aubrie Kierscht and Grace Booth to establish an early advantage. Kierscht knocked down three first-quarter three-pointers, finishing the opening period with nine points. Lexi Castator also provided an offensive spark off the bench, connecting on a three-pointer and adding a fast-break layup.
After Johnson trimmed the deficit in the second quarter, the Spartans maintained control and carried a 13-point lead into the break.
The third quarter proved to be the difference. Following a Johnson three-pointer that made it 43-29, Upstate responded with a 15-0 scoring run to take complete control. Castator converted a pair of free throws, Emma Blair added four points at the charity stripe, and Haylie Lamonde capped the run with a three-pointer to give the Spartans a 58-29 advantage.
Upstate continued to build on its lead, closing the third quarter with a 27-4 scoring advantage to take a commanding 66-30 lead into the final period.
The Spartans maintained their momentum throughout the fourth quarter, extending their advantage to as many as 36 points before securing the 82-51 victory in front of the home crowd.
Grace Booth led Upstate with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Castator added 10 points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting performance from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Kierscht finished with nine points, all coming from three-point range.
Blair contributed eight points and eight rebounds, while Izzy Callaway also finished with eight points, including two three-pointers. Madison Miller added seven points and three rebounds, while Kinley Paterson distributed six assists to lead the Spartans.
The Spartans controlled the glass, outrebounding Johnson 47-31, including a 21-11 advantage on the offensive boards. Upstate also finished with 30 points in the paint, 20 fast-break points and 21 second-chance points.
The Spartans shot 38.5 percent (25-of-65) from the field, connecting on 10 three-pointers while converting 22-of-30 attempts at the free-throw line. Defensively, Upstate forced 22 turnovers and recorded 13 steals and 10 blocked shots.
Johnson finished the contest shooting 31.4 percent (16-of-51) from the field and 27.6 percent (8-of-29) from three-point range.
Upstate returns to action on Saturday, November 7, playing host to the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan. Tip for that contest is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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