The Presbyterian College women’s basketball team ended its season with a 60-48 loss to USC Upstate in the first round of the Big South Tournament on Wednesday night at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Presbyterian trailed for most of the game but narrowed the gap to eight points in the fourth quarter. USC Upstate maintained control, shooting nearly 49 percent from the field and outrebounding Presbyterian 40-20.
Ja’Cia Cunningham led Presbyterian’s offense with 15 points, making six field goals and three out of four free throws. Allie Sykes also scored in double digits, contributing 10 points with three field goals and two three-pointers. Daniella Velez added nine points, including two three-pointers. On defense, Ore Ogunwolere posted two steals while Aminata Tal and Cunningham each recorded a blocked shot.
In the first quarter, Aminata Tal opened scoring for Presbyterian, helping her team take an early lead before USC Upstate responded with a run to end the period ahead by one point. The Spartans extended their advantage in the second quarter, going into halftime up 30-18 as Presbyterian struggled offensively.
USC Upstate kept its lead in the third quarter despite a strong effort from Cunningham, who scored nine points during that stretch. Sykes hit her first three-pointer late in the quarter to reduce the deficit to 11 points entering the final period.
Presbyterian cut USC Upstate’s lead to eight early in the fourth quarter after Ogunwolere made a three-pointer. Sykes and Velez both connected from beyond the arc later in the period, but USC Upstate held off any comeback attempts to secure victory.
“This is the 16th time this season that Ja’Cia Cunningham has scored in double figures. She also recorded her 10th blocked shot of the year.”
“Daniella Velez logged her sixth game of the season making at least two treys for Presbyterian.”
“Allie Sykes reached double figures for the fifth time in her freshman campaign. She also recorded her seventh game making multiple threes.”
“Aminata Tal recorded her fourth blocked shot of the season.”
The loss ends Presbyterian’s season with a record of 3-27 overall and 1-15 in Big South play.
