College of Charleston
USC Upstate
Cougars Come Up Short, Fall to Spartans, 73-62
12/3/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Charleston fell to 1-5 on the year, while Upstate improved to 3-5.
The Cougars opened the first half with a layup by Deidra Jones at the 19:42 mark, but did not score another basket for almost eight minutes, and fell behind 17-3 before a jumper by Ashley Scott with 11:36 on the clock ended the scoring drought. During that stretch, Charleston went 0-for-seven from the field and turned the ball over seven times, resulting in 10 Spartan points. Upstate answered with an 8-2 run to take its largest lead of the half, an 18-point 25-7 lead with 8:36 to go before intermission. The Cougars responded with an 8-0 run, fueled by a five-point effort by Gerty, over the next minute to make it a 10-point 25-15 game with 7:36 to go. Trailing by 17 (32-15) with 4:46 remaining, Charleston took another 8-0 run to cut the deficit to nine with 2:32 at 32-23 but could not contain the single-digit margin after Spartan Courtney Bradley nailed a three-pointer as time expired, and went into the locker room down by 12, 37-25.
The Cougars went into the locker room shooting 40.0 percent, compared to 41.9 for the Spartans. Upstate was seven-for-14 in three-pointers, while the Cougars were only three-for-six. Rebounds were even at 18 apiece, but it was Upstate that led in second-chance points, 14-2. Charleston led in turnovers, 14-9. Upstate converted 20 points off the turnovers, the Cougars just 12.
Every time in the second half the Cougars attempted a run, bringing the deficit to nine or 10 on several occasions, Upstate seemed to respond with a three-pointer or timely jumper and kept Charleston at bay for much of the final 20 minutes. Down by 12, 66-54, with 1:30 to go, Gerty cut the margin to nine but after a quick Cougar foul and a made free throw and a jumper by the Spartans, Charleston trailed by 12 again. That would be as close as the Cougars would get as the Spartans converted on the final four free throws to seal the eventual 73-62 win.
The Cougars shot 40.6 percent from the field in the second half and 40.4 for the game. Upstate shot 50.0 percent in the second half, for 45.1 percent in the game. While Upstate was 12-for-24 in three-pointers, Charleston was seven-for-17. After being tied in the second half, the Cougars out-rebounded the Spartans 41-33 for the game. Charleston held the edge in turnovers, 25-21, while Upstate went 15-for-23 from the free throw line, compared to nine-for-17 for the Cougars.
Following Gerty's 23 points was Erika Smith with 13. Sarah Moye pulled down a team-leading 12 rebounds, just two from her career-high.
For the Spartan, Courtney Hawkins paced the team with 21. Oceana Jackson followed with 17 on the night. Shanea Wyant led in rebounds with nine.
The Cougars take off for exams and resume action Wednesday, Dec. 12th at 4:30 p.m. against Kennesaw State. The Spartans travel to Georgia Tech the sixth for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
