CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team (3-20, 1-9 Big South) stormed back from an 18-point deficit but ultimately fell short at home to USC Upstate 70-63 on Wednesday night (Feb. 4) at the Templeton Center.
The Blue Hose tied the game in the third quarter after rallying from an 18-point first half deficit but were unable to complete the comeback. USC Upstate held on late, holding Presbyterian to just 3-of-16 shooting in the fourth quarter. For the game, the Spartans shot 53.5 percent from the field and limited PC to just 30.9 percent shooting.
Ja'Cia Cunningham led the way for Presbyterian, scoring 22 points. She did most of her work from the free throw line, making 13 of her 17 attempts (both career-highs). This is the fourth time that Cunningham has scored at least 20 points this season and the third time in the last six games. Aminata Tal and Daniella Velez also scored in double figures, adding 13 and 11 points respectively. Velez tied her career-high with 11 points. She drained three treys as well, also tying her career-high.
As a team, the Blue Hose were disruptive defensively, forcing 27 USC Upstate turnovers. Ore Ogunwolere, Velez, and Tal each recorded three steals apiece.
FROM HEAD COACH TIFFANY SARDIN
"I thought we fought hard to finish out the game. If we come out in the second half how we did in the first, then we don't put ourselves in the hole. We certainly as a team don't have a lot of room for error. Some of the little silly mistakes that we were making early on and putting ourselves in giving up a big lead of 18 doesn't help us. So, we found ourselves in a position of just fighting, and unfortunately we couldn't finish it through. But I do like the fight of our women. We showed a lot of fight at the end, and we just got to put together four quarters of fight."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
USC Upstate quickly bursted out to a lead over the Blue Hose, scoring the game's first six points. Ore Ogunwolere and Ja'Cia Cunningham followed with PC's first points of the night, but the Spartans were dominant the rest of the quarter. The Spartans finished the quarter on an 11-2 run to grab a 21-6 advantage through 10 minutes. Aminata Tal scored the other two points for PC in the period on a made jumper.
Second Quarter
The Blue Hose picked up the offense in the second, shooting 50 percent from the field in the quarter. Krystal Haddock got Presbyterian going in the second with a three-point play to open the period. The Spartans led by as many as 18 halfway through the quarter before the Blue Hose began to cut into the deficit. Cunningham and Tal both got hot offensively, helping PC go on a 7-2 run to help close the gap. The Blue Hose cut the Upstate lead to 37-25 late in the period after Cunningham scored four straight points. However, the Spartans finished the half strong, going into the break with a 15-point 42-27 lead. USC Upstate shot 55.6 percent from the field as a team in the first half.
Third Quarter
PC poured it on in the third quarter to storm back into the game, outscoring the Spartans 23-12. Presbyterian opened the second half with four straight points from Ogunwolere and Tal. The Spartans responded to grow the lead to 16 up 50-34 halfway into the period before the Blue Hose made their run. Presbyterian dominated the rest of the quarter on both ends, embarking on a 16-4 run the rest of the quarter. Velez made multiple threes for PC, while Allie Sykes pitched in three free throws as well. Defensively, Presbyterian dominated the Spartans, forcing 11 turnovers in the quarter. Heading into the final period, the Spartans took a 54-50 lead.
Fourth Quarter
The Blue Hose came out fast to start the fourth, immediately tying the game at 54 after baskets from Velez and Amani Williams. USC Upstate answered with a basket and maintained a narrow advantage over the next several minutes. Two free throws by Cunningham cut the PC deficit to four down 64-60 with 2:29 left, but Presbyterian never got closer. The Spartans responded with a 5-0 run to put the game out of reach, ultimately coming away with a 70-63 victory. USC Upstate held the Blue Hose to just 3-of-16 shooting in the fourth.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will be back on the road on Saturday (Feb. 7), taking on Charleston Southern at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
