GREENSBORO, N.C. - Sophomore Kennedy Simpson posted a game-high 15 points as the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team claimed a Wednesday evening victory over USC Upstate, 54-48.
 
This was the third win at home for UNCG. The UNCG Spartans were 3-0 last year to start the season with wins over UNC Asheville, Winthrop, and Lenoir-Rhyne.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
USC Upstate held a 5-4 lead in the first five minutes of the first quarter. Nasia Powell helped the Spartans reclaim the lead at the 4:56 mark on a three-point field goal that gave UNCG a two-point lead, 7-5. UNCG held USC Upstate without a field goal for two minutes as UNCG's lead grew as large as four in the quarter. USC Upstate countered by holding UNCG without a field goal for the final 2:40 as part of a 4-0 run to close the court with USC Upstate leading, 13-12.
 
UNCG boasted a 16-2 run in the second quarter that lasted 7:05 in the period. UNCG's lead grew as large as 13 points in the period while holding USC Upstate to only three field goals during the period. Simpson posted ten points in the period as her free throws with 31 seconds left gave UNCG a 30-19 advantage at halftime.
 
Both sides remained scoreless for the third quarter through the first 3:08 of the frame. UNCG and USC Upstate alternated field goals three times until USC Upstate made one of two free throws with 3:43 remaining in the period. UNCG extended the lead back to 13 in the next possession, but USC Upstate countered with the first run of the quarter, 9-2, to cut the lead to six. UNCG regained a seven-point lead following a free throw from Akira Wiggins with 47 seconds left.
 
That point began a 6-0 run for UNCG that lasted until the 6:45 mark of the fourth quarter. UNCG held the lead in double digits until the 4:57 mark when USC Upstate cut the lead to nine, 50-41. Akira Wiggins made a fast break layup in response to reclaim a double-digit lead. USC Upstate posted a 7-0 run beginning at 3:06 and lasted for the next 2:58 as the UNCG lead was cut to four points. USC Upstate would be unable to move any further as Wiggins hit a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to seal the win for UNCG.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

•  Simpson went 5-of-9 from the field and made all three free throws attempted.
• Faith Price came off the bench to represent the remaining Spartan in double-figure scoring with 10 points.
• Khalis Cain pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
• UNCG shot 39.2 percent from the field, including 40 percent in the second quarter and 44.4 percent in the fourth frame.
• USC Upstate held a 34-30 rebounding advantage over UNCG.
• UNCG turned 21 USC Upstate turnovers into 16 points.
• UNCG won the turnover battle over USC Upstate, 21-17.
• UNCG held a 30-28 advantage in the paint over USC Upstate.

RECORDS
USC Upstate: 1-4
UNCG: 3-2
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans travel to Winthrop Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. contest with the Eagles in Rock Hill, S.C.