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Madison Ruff
Bryce Lester/Winthrop Athletics
66
Winner Winthrop Win 9-8,2-1 Big South
64
USC Upstate USCU 5-12,0-3 Big South
Winner
Winthrop Win
9-8,2-1 Big South
66
Final
64
USC Upstate USCU
5-12,0-3 Big South
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Winthrop Win 18 17 14 17 66
USC Upstate USCU 16 18 17 13 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Eagles Rally Late to Top USC Upstate, 66-64

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Amourie Porter once again tied her career-high with 25 points Wednesday night as the Winthrop University women's basketball squad fought off USC Upstate 66-64 at the G.B. Hodge Center. 
FIRST QUARTER 
  • Winthrop scored the first punch in transition with Tocarra Johnson finishing inside, then Porter followed with another layup off an assist from Cori Lard to grab an early edge. 
  • USC Upstate answered from deep with back-to-back 3s from Gwen Jenkins and Cassie Gallagher, briefly pushing in front 8-4. 
  • Madison Ruff steadied things with a pair of finishes at the rim, including a bucket that put Winthrop back on top 9-8. 
  • The Spartans got to the line late as Zoe Richardson knocked down two free throws to nudge USC Upstate ahead 14-13. 
  • Jada Ryce hit a pull-up jumper to answer, and the Eagles' pressure started to show with steals and deflections forcing empty possessions. 
  • At the horn, Mya Pierfax buried a jumper and drew a foul, then converted the free throw to send Winthrop into the break up 18-16. 
SECOND QUARTER 
  • Johnson opened the quarter by cleaning up her own miss with a tip-in to stretch the margin to 20-16. 
  • USC Upstate trimmed it quickly with a Kinley Paterson fast-break layup, then stayed attached with free throws from Gallagher. 
  • Ruff knocked down a midrange jumper, and Porter added points at the stripe as Winthrop kept the lead despite a string of whistles. 
  • Winthrop's key surge happened after Upstate made it 22-21; the Eagles ripped off a 7-0 run to build their biggest lead at 29-21. 
  • Gallagher responded with a steady diet of free throws and a late 3-pointer to pull the Spartans within one at halftime. 
  • Upstate's rebounding and second chances kept the game tight, with the Spartans generating extra looks while Winthrop picked its spots in the paint. 
THIRD QUARTER 
  • Porter opened the half by tipping in an offensive board, but USC Upstate's physicality on the glass continued to create possessions. 
  • The Spartans grabbed momentum with a Jenkins 3 to take the lead 41-40, then kept pressure on with points inside from Emma Blair and Madison Miller. 
  • Porter answered with a layup in transition and later drilled her lone 3-pointer near the end of the quarter to keep Winthrop within striking distance. 
  • Winthrop's defense sparked offense with steals as the Eagles repeatedly turned live-ball turnovers into quick chances. 
  • USC Upstate still found ways to manufacture points, including tip-ins from Aijah Palmore, to hold the edge. 
  • Porter's late 3 cut it to 51-49 heading to the fourth, setting up a final ten minutes of lead changes. 
FOURTH QUARTER 
  • Ryce tied it at 51-51 early, but Gallagher hit a 3 and USC Upstate kept coming, eventually pushing ahead 59-53 on a Kierscht triple. 
  • Johnson and Lard answered inside to tie it 59-59, then Palmore's tip-in gave the Spartans another lead at 61-59. 
  • Gallagher buried her fourth 3-pointer to make it 64-59 with 2:20 left, as it looked like the Spartans had control. 
  • Winthrop flipped it with defense, Ryiah Wilson helped create stop a turnover off a rebound to get it inside to Porter, putting Winthrop one point away with under a minute to play. 
  • Ruff finished in the lane with a tough layup with 0:15 seconds left, seeing the Eagles mount the lead 65-64. 
  • Winthrop held up on the defensive end, forcing up a bad look and rallying to the boards for a jump ball that saw the possession arrow favor the Eagles. 
  • After a free throw, Winthrop picked off the inbounds pass and escaped Spartanburg with a victory, 66-64. 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE 
  • Porter, 25 points and nine rebounds, went 11-of-18 from the field and tied her career high in scoring. 
  • Winthrop won it in the paint, with 30 points inside, and forced the issue defensively with eleven steals, led by Ryiah Wilson's four. 
  • USC Upstate lived on the arc and the glass: Eight made threes and a 39-29 rebounding edge. 
  • Turnovers told two stories: USC Upstate coughed it up 21 times; Winthrop scored 25 points off turnovers, while Winthrop had 16 turnovers of its own. 
  • USC Upstate leaders: Cassie Gallagher 22 points, Kinley Paterson ten points, five assists, and four steals, Emma Blair eight rebounds off the bench. 
NEXT UP
The Eagles return home on Saturday to face Charleston Southern at 2:00 p.m.

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