Wednesday, November 23,
2005
SPARTANS PREVAIL IN
OVERTIME OVER
LADY BLUE HOSE 88-86
PC’s Wessinger &
USCU’s Ross both tally 1,000th career point in
game
CLINTON, S.C. -- USC Upstate’s senior center Yakeeshia Ross (Spartanburg, S.C.) tallied 32 points and 11 boards to lead the Spartans to an 88-86 overtime victory over Presbyterian College in women’s college basketball action Wednesday night at the Ross E. Templeton Center.
The game featured two milestones as Ross and PC’s senior forward Rebecca Wessinger (Laurens, S.C.) each scored their 1,000th career point on the night. Wessinger finished the game with 26 points to go along with a team-best six assists.
In the first half, the Spartans took an early lead behind the play of Ross who tallied 16 first half points. USC Upstate largest lead came at 33-23 at the 7:02 mark on a three-pointer by senior guard Shannon Pallardy (LaCrosse, WI). The Lady Blue Hose put together a 22-9 run to close the half and retake the lead at 44-42 with :17 seconds remaining on layup by sophomore guard Bridget Takach (Chapin, S.C.).
The Spartans shot 57.1% from the field in the first half while PC shot 45.7% from the floor including hitting five-of-10 three-point field goals. Both teams shot well from the charity stripe with connecting on seven-of-10 attempts for 70.0% while the Spartans were six-of-eight, good for 75.0%.
The second half featured eight lead changes as the game progressed, the last coming at 73-73 with :48 seconds remaining on a three-pointer by the Spartans’ freshman guard Courtney Bradley (Columbia, S.C.) to force overtime.
In the extra period, USC Upstate led by as many as five points at 81-76 on a pair of free throws by Bradley, but the Lady Blue Hose fought back with a pair of three-pointers by freshman guard Marie Marquez (Greenville, S.C.) and Takach to retake the lead to 84-83 with 1:09 remaining in the game. Ross’ layup gave the Spartans back the lead at 85-84, but Wessinger answered with a pair of free throws to give PC a 86-85 lead with :26 seconds remaining. USCU’s Bradley hit a three-pointer with :13 seconds remaining to give the Spartans a 88-86 lead and seal the victory.
Ross was joined for scoring honors by Pallardy who tallied 13 points, while Bradley chipped in 11 points. Freshman guard Kristen Metcalf (Marion, N.C.) rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points. Senior guard Toya Shuler (Reesville, S.C.) led all players with a game-high nine assists for the Spartans.
PC’s Takach scored a career-best 19 points on five-of-seven shooting from beyond the arc, while Marquez came off the bench to add a personal-best 13 points to go along with five boards. Freshman center Sharie Hopkins (Chesapeake, Va.) added 11 points on the night as PC won the battle of the backboards 42-32.
USC Upstate returns to action on Saturday, November 26 when they host the Lady Indians of Newberry College at 2:00 pm. Presbyterian also returns to action this weekend with a road game at Alderson-Broaddus College on Saturday at 2:00 pm followed by a road game at Davis & Elkins College on Sunday, November 27 also at 2:00 pm.