GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite a career-high 19 points from senior forward Jarae Savage (Marietta, Ga./North Cobb), the UNCG women's basketball team fell just short against USC Upstate, 69-60, Thursday night in the home opener in Fleming Gymnasium.

Savage broke her career-high of 16 points by scoring 19 on 7-of-15 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from the three-point line. Also in double-figures for UNCG was junior guard Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) with 11 points and sophomore Shanese Harris (Chesapeake, Va/Western Branch) had 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Senior Jessica Collins (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield/Eckerd College) rounded out the scoring with eight points on 3-for-6 shooting.

UNCG falls to 1-2 on the season and USC Upstate improves to 2-2 winning its second-straight game since starting the season 0-2. USC Upstate won the battle of the boards grabbing 49 rebounds (25 offensive) to just 40 for UNCG.

The Blue and Gold had a solid shooting game finished 23-of-56 for 41.1 percent and held USC Upstate to just 31.1 percent (23-of-74) but 25 fouls led to 27 free throws for the visitors. USC Upstate went 20-for-27 from the free throw line as UNCG was 8-for-13.

USC Upstate was able to force 27 turnovers that led to 26 points and UNCG was only able to score 10 points off 17 turnovers for the visiting Spartans. USC Upstate had four players in double-figures with Brittany Starling leading the way with 17 points and nine rebounds. Sharmayne Edwards scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half to preserve the victory for USC Upstate.

In the first half, UNCG opened with a tremendous run to lead 13-2 after a fast break layup by Harris at the 16:27 mark. Savage opened the game with a three-pointer and back-to-back jumpers by Mason had the home Spartans off to a great start.

Just a minute later, UNCG's lead would balloon to 13 points after another three-pointer from Savage off an assist from sophomore Bailey Williams (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) pushed the lead to 19-6. USC Upstate would have an answer going on a 15-2 run over a six-minute stretch to tie the game at 21-21 off two free throws from Kristen Dickerson with nine minutes left in the half.

Both teams continued to battle, as the lead would change hands twice. The Blue and Gold regained control to lead 30-25 off two free throws from Mason at the 5:21 mark. USC Upstate fought back with a 9-4 run to tie the game at 34-34 off a three-pointer from Maddie Herr with just under a minute left in the half.

Freshman Skye Jefferson (Richmond, Va./Cosby) scored a layup with 32 seconds left to put UNCG ahead 36-34 but Starling would make one of two free throws to cut the Blue and Gold's lead to 36-35 at the half.

In the second stanza, USC Upstate would take control early with an 8-2 run thanks to back-to-back buckets from Edwards to give the visitors a 43-38 lead just three minutes into the half.  UNCG tied the game with a quick 5-0 run off a three pointer from Savage and a offensive rebound and layup from sophomore India Timpton (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park).

Each team would trade baskets over the course of the next eight minutes but USC Upstate got two-straight scores from Brittany Clency and Shelby Hicks to take a 58-52 lead with seven minutes left. Williams buried a three-pointer to cut USC Upstate's lead to 58-55 but that is the closest UNCG would come the rest of the way.

The visiting Spartans would pull away with a 7-0 run late and took over six minutes off the clock as a free throw by Hicks with less than a minute remaining pushed the lead to 65-55. Collins would score five points in the final minute but USC Upstate would hold on for a 69-60 final.