Spartanburg, S.C. ? Four Hatters scored in double-figures yet Stetson (8-15, 5-10) could not hold off their hosts in the end and fell 75-61 to USC Upstate (11-12, 6-8) Saturday evening in Spartanburg. Sophomore Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla.) scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds for the Hatters. USC Upstate's Kendra Wallace led all scorers with 23 points and chipped in seven rebounds and four assists.
At 12:29 of the second half the Spartans' Kolesia Richardson (Ft. Walton, Fla.) hit a 3-pointer to put her team up by a point. Although Stetson would draw even twice more, Upstate was on top to stay. After Conner tied the score at 55 on a pair of free throws at 6:42 the Spartans slammed the door shut with a 20-6 run to end the game.
After shooting 26.7% in the first half, USC Upstate shot an impressive 60.0% (18-30) in the second including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Stetson did not have a strong night from the floor shooting 31.1% overall.
Also scoring in double figures for Stetson were Ayesha Barkley (East Orange, N.J.), Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.), and Jessica Bivins (Orlando, Fla.) each with 10 points. Ashli Jackson (Opelika, Ala.) led the team under the glass with 10 rebounds to go along with eight points.
Stetson looked strong in the first half. Bivins (Orlando, Fla.) pulled up for a fast break jumper from the paint at 6:53 and Stetson had pulled ahead by seven at 19-12. The Hatters would match that lead twice more in the game, and increase it by one early in the second.
Coming out of the locker room, Brittany Carannante (Clearwater, Fla.) knocked down a long ball and Stetson led by eight at 30-22 with 19:12 showing on the clock. As it turned out that was the largest lead the visitors would enjoy on the night.
After losing both games of the road trip Stetson has now dropped six of its last seven games and will look forward to playing back in the Edmunds Center. The Hatters are also anticipating the return of senior point guard Sharnesha Smith (Kingsland, Ga.), the team's top scorer who has been home with her family.
The Hatters will return to the Edmunds Center to host Mercer at 5 p.m. Thursday in the opening act of a doubleheader with the men's team taking on a Savannah State immediately following. Bill Topping and Dee Romine call the action on Hatter Vision, available at www.GoHatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics. During both games of the twin bill Stetson Athletics will be hosting another Honor Roll Night for the students of West Volusia County.
