SPARTANBURG, S.C.  – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team took a 56-53 victory from USC Upstate on Monday in the G.B. Hodge Center after taking advantage in the fourth quarter.
 
Kennedy Simpson led UNCG with 17 points after matching her career high of five three-pointers and going 6-for-10 in field goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
USC Upstate got on the board first in Monday's contest to maintain the lead throughout the entire first half and third quarter. With the game tied at six points apiece, USC Upstate notched a 9-0 run to close out the first frame on top, 15-6.
 
UNCG picked up the pace in the second quarter by outscoring USC Upstate 17-14. With the Blue & Gold down by 12, (22-10), a jumper from Nasia Powell propelled an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to three (24-21). Before heading into the break, USC Upstate went up by eight, 29-21, but Antoniette Emma-Nnopu's layup with assist from Kelly Boyle cut the deficit to six, 29-23.
 
USC Upstate continued to hold its lead in the third quarter. However, UNCG was still able to outscore the home team, 15-12 in the frame. With UNCG down by 10, (39-29), a floating jump shot from Jayde Gamble, following back-to-back three-pointers from Simpson cut the deficit to two (39-37). Free throws from both teams ended the third quarter with USC Upstate in the lead, 41-39.
 
With USC Upstate up 48-42, an 8-0 run from UNCG that featured free throws from Emma-Nnopu, a three-pointer from Simpson and a three-point play from Isys Grady gave the Blue & Gold their first lead of the game with 4:19 left in the matchup (50-48).  A driving layup from Levine, tied the game at 50 apiece, but a quick pull up jumper from Gamble put UNCG back on top (52-50). UNCG held the lead for the remainder of the game and closed out the contest at the free-throw line, 56-53.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Gamble and Grady followed closely behind Simpson with nine points apiece.
• Emma-Nnopu led the squad with 11 boards.
• Khalis Cain and Gamble tied with seven rebounds apiece.
• Jay'lin Hastings posted a new game high of four points and four boards.
• Grady earned a season high of four steals.  
• UNCG earned 20 second chance points, while USC Upstate had nine.
• The Blue & Gold led the way with 29 points off the bench.

RECORDS
UNCG: 9-3
USC Upstate: 5-7
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue on the road by facing UNC Asheville on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. in Kimmel Arena before Christmas break. To purchase tickets for any home games for the  2023-24 UNCG women's basketball season, click here to learn more or call the UNCG Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 334-3250.

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