Last Second Shot Lifts USC-Upstate Past SC State in Women’s Basketball

Junior, Kourtney Williams scored a game-high 26 points in the loss

Box Score

Spartanburg, S.C.—Junior Kourtney Williams dropped in a game-high 26 points as SC State fell to USC-Upstate by one, 57-58, in a non-conference women's basketball matchup. The game was the second of two road contests to start the season.

Redshirt sophomore Mykala Jones was the only other SC State player to score in double-figures with 11 points, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. Junior Persephone Goodwin pulled in 12 rebounds with seven points, five steals and three block shots as SC State fell to 0-2 on the season.

Brittany Starling paced USC-Upstate with a double-double, 12 points-13 rebounds. Brittany Clency scores 11 points as the Spartans improved to 3-3 on the season.

SC State began the game very aggressive, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and forcing USC-Upstate into a quick timeout at the 17:44 mark. Out of the timeout, the Spartans the next four points. The Lady Bulldogs remained poised using a 4-0 run of their own to push its lead back to eight. SC State maintained control of the first half pushing its lead to 11 with just over nine minutes remaining in the half. SC State owned a 19 points lead, 41-22, heading into the half.

USC-Upstate picked up its intensity to start the second half, using a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 12 points, 43-31, with 13:48 remaining in the contest. SC State was able to withstand the mini run and push its lead to 14, 45-31, before the Spartans offense began to increase. USC-Upstate used a 13-5 run over six-plus minutes to pull within five, 49-44, with 7:14 remaining. The teams exchanged baskets over the next couple of possessions, before a layup by the Spartans Brittany Starling at the 3:52 mark got USC-Upstate within three, 55-52. A long jumper by Brittany Clency with 2:26 remaining pulled the Spartans within one, 55-54, but a quick timeout by SC State's Williams gave the Lady Bulldogs the three-point lead, 57-54, with just under two minutes remaining. A made jumper by Clency at the 1:23 mark once again pulled the Spartans within one, 57-56. The Lady Bulldogs held the one point advantage until a put-back off a missed basket by Shelby Hicks with one second remaining lifted the Spartans past SC State, 57-58.

SC State will host Presbyterian, Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs will then hit the road for its next six contests beginning next Tuesday, Nov. 26 when they travel to Athens, Ga. to face the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia. SC State will travel to College of Charleston (11-30), Clemson (12-14), Alabama A&M (12-17), Jacksonville State (12-19) and South Carolina (12-22) before returning home to open its 2013-14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on December 30.

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