SPARTANBURG, S.C. - A 13-0 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters helped host USC Upstate pull away from Charleston Southern in the Big South opener for both teams as the Buccaneers fell to the Spartans in the G.B. Hodge Center on Saturday afternoon, 70-53.
 
Ahlea Myers posted a season-high 16 points as the sophomore guard hit 4-of-7 three-pointers from the field on her way to pacing the Bucs (2-8, 0-1 Big South) in the loss. Tori Gittens added a trio of three-pointers in the first half on her way to posting a season-high 11 points, while Tierra Steede had nine points and five rebounds for CSU.
 
Brianna Lewis paced all scorers in leading the Spartans (6-4, 1-0 Big South) to the Big South opening win for USC Upstate. The senior guard was 7-of-14 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free throw line in her 24-point performance, while Barrett Herring (13) and Michaela Gibbons (12) were also in double-digits for the Spartans.
 
First Quarter – USC Upstate 14, Charleston Southern 9
Michaela Gibbons' pair of three-pointers provided a key difference between the two teams in a mostly defensive first quarter. The Bucs shot 3-of-14 from the floor in the first quarter, but were paced by Carmella Walker's three steals and Tierra Steede's four rebounds in keeping the game within a single possession late at 12-9. A late pair of Natalia Panufnik free throws with three seconds remaining in the quarter helped the Spartans to the five-point edge at the break.
 
Second Quarter – USC Upstate 31, Charleston Southern 28
Whereas the first quarter was highlighted by strong defensive performances, the second quarter was dominated by a combined eight three-pointers from the two teams as five different players connected from behind the arc. CSU was 7-of-10 from the floor in the second quarter and cut the Upstate lead down to two points late in the period as Gittens converted a three-pointer and a jumper just inside the arc to cut the lead down to 30-28 with 1:07 remaining. Jada Logan took advantage of one of nine CSU turnovers in the quarter and converted a late free throw attempt to put the margin at three points at the half.
 
Third Quarter – USC Upstate 49, Charleston Southern 38
USC Upstate went on a 9-0 run to end the third quarter and stretch their lead to a double-digit advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest. CSU narrowed the gap down to 40-38 on a Steede free throw before the Spartans took over. Upstate scored the final nine points of the quarter with six coming on the fast break on their way to taking their largest lead of the afternoon.
 
Fourth Quarter – USC Upstate 70, Charleston Southern 53
The Spartans scored the first two baskets of the final quarter on their way to building a 53-38 advantage with 7:36 remaining. Steede ended the run with a pair of free throws a minute later to put the Bucs on the board. Kelsie Ruff added a pair of free throws with 3:51 remaining to cut the Spartans' lead down to 59-46, but that was as close as CSU was able to get the rest of the way in the Big South opener.
 
Inside the Statistics

• Charleston Southern shot 16-of-50 (32.0%) from the field, 8-of-22 (36.4%) from the three-point line, and 13-of-14 (92.9%) from the free throw line in the loss.
• USC Upstate was 23-of-64 (35.9%) from the floor, 5-of-16 (31.3%) from behind the arc, and 19-of-22 (86.4%) from the charity stripe in the win.
• USC Upstate held the 45-32 rebounding edge and the 13-2 advantage in second-chance points in the game.
• Paced by Myers (16) and Gittens (11), the Bucs held the 31-23 edge in bench points.
• USC Upstate finished the game with the edge in fast-break points (22-14), points off turnovers (27-12), and points in the paint (28-12).

News & Notes

• Ahlea Myers' 16 points tied a career-high for the sophomore guard as the Columbia, S.C. native equaled the mark she set at Georgia last season on December 2, 2018.
• Myers' four three-pointers also equaled a career-high previously set in the same game against Georgia, while her 28 minutes were a season-high for the Bucs.
• Tori Gittens' 11 points were a season-high and her first double-digit scoring effort since scoring 10 points against South Carolina State on November 9, 2019.
• Gittens' trio of three-pointers were also a career-high for the freshman wing who entered the game with six conversions on the season.
• Tierra Steede's two-game double-digit scoring streak came to an end on Saturday as the senior forward was limited to nine points.
• Sharita Godfrey's four-game double-digit scoring streak came to an end as the sophomore wing scored six points in Saturday's loss to the Spartans.
• CSU's streak of six consecutive games with double-digit steals was snapped on Saturday as the Bucs were only able to record seven against the Spartans.
• The Bucs hit a season-high eight three-pointers in the win over the Spartans.
• CSU fell to 9-5 all-time in the series against USC Upstate.
• CSU's loss ended the Bucs' three-game winning streak over the Spartans.

Up Next
Charleston Southern returns home for their conference home opener against Gardner-Webb on New Year's Eve. Tipoff between the Bucs and the Runnin' Bulldogs is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.