SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Lees-McRae women's basketball battled for 40 minutes on Thursday afternoon against Division I opponent USC Upstate. The Spartans earned the 65-59 win over the Bobcats.
Kirsten Watt led the Bobcats with 21 points on 6-11 from three-point range.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 59; USC Upstate – 65
LOCATION: G.B. Hodge Center – Spartanburg, South Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (4-6/2-4), USC Upstate (3-10/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- USC Upstate started the game on 4-0 run before Layla Tillery got Lees-McRae within one with a free-throw and a jumper on the following possession. The Spartans led 24-13 at the end of the first period.
- Lees-McRae cut the deficit back to 10 points with a fastbreak layup from Sandra Mason as the Bobcats trailed 35-25 into the halftime break.
- Emily Barr started the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer off the glass and Watt knocked in two consecutive triples for the 44-38 deficit with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.
- The Bobcats continued to pressure USC Upstate and trailed by five entering the final 10 minutes of play.
- Tillery and the Bobcats trailed by four after free-throw makes from Tillery, but USC Upstate moved its lead to eight with 3:05 left in regulation. Watt collected one more three-pointer in the game as Lees-McRae fell to USC Upstate, 65-59, in exhibition play.
- Watt led all scorers on the day with 21 points on 7-14 from the field and added two rebounds. Tillery followed with 15 points and Barr had seven points and three boards.
FOR THE SPARTANS:
- Cassie Gallagher had a team-high 17 points for the Spartans and Jeni Levine joined her in double-digit scoring with 10 points.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball will face Division I opponent Elon on New Year's Eve at 1 p.m. in Elon, North Carolina.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
