Box Score SPARTANBURG, SC – South Carolina State juniors Kyesha Lewis and Kemoni Jenkins scored 10 points each but the Lady Bulldogs could not overcome a cold-shooting afternoon and fell 63-44 to USC Upstate Saturday afternoon at the G.B. Hodge Center.
 
DaShanique Peterson came off the bench for eight points and a team-high nine rebounds in the loss, which dropped Coach Doug Robertson's team to 2-4 on the season. Chantel Williams added six points and as many rebounds for SC State.
 
The host Spartans, who snapped a two-game losing streak with the win, had a balanced scoring attack, led by Anda Kuzmina's 12 points. Rylie Parkhurst added 11 points and Brittney Delva 10 for USC Upstate, which also got nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds from Riley Popplewell in the win that lifted its record to 3-8.
 
SC State finished the game with 31.7 percent accuracy from the field, connecting on 19-60 attempts, including a 4-19 effort from three-point range. The Spartans were not much better as they nailed only 35.9 percent of their shots from the floor, 23-64, including an 8-27 showing from beyond the arc.
 
However, the host connected on 40 percent (6-15) of its attempts in the opening quarter when they took an 18-7 lead. The Lady Bulldogs only made 3-12 field goal attempts in the first period, 25 percent accuracy.
 
"We started the game cold, fell behind by 11 points after the first quarter and never could get going," said Robertson."  We didn't do much better in the second quarter and were down 17 points at the half and we never really recovered. "
 
The Lady Bulldogs' biggest deficit came late in the third quarter when they trailed 50-23 before using a 9-0 run to close the gap to 50-32 at the end of the period.
 
"We also had a big deficit in rebounds after the first half, but we did a much better job on the boards in the second half."
 
USC Upstate had a 27-14 edge in rebounds after two quarters but ended the contest with only a 43-40 margin as SC State won the rebounding battle in the second half, 26-16.
 
The host also had a big advantage at the charity stripe, connecting on 9-12. SC State only got to the line once, with just 16.2 seconds left. Jenkins made both attempts for a 2-2 effort from the free throw line for the Lady Bulldogs.
 
The host Spartans, behind eight points each by Parkhurst and Popplewell, took a 33-16 lead at the half. Popplewell also had nine first-half rebounds as USCU enjoyed a 13-rebound advantage on the boards after 20 minutes.
 
The Spartans scored the game's first nine points and took an 18-7 lead after one as SC State made just 25 percent (3-12) of its field goal attempts in the quarter, while USCU was 6-15 in the opening period for a 40 percent accuracy from the field.
 
USCU maintained its scoring advantage in the second period, outscoring the visiting Lady Bulldogs 15-9 in the period to build its 17-point lead at the break. The Spartans outscored SC State just 17-16 after three periods but still enjoyed a 50-32. The final period was also close as the Lady Bulldogs were outscored 13-12 for the final margin.
 
SC State returns to the court Monday when Robertson's team travels to Charleston for a 12 noon contest against Charleston Southern.