SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Cassie Gallagher scored 24 points and South Carolina Upstate used a dominant second-half defensive effort to pull away from Presbyterian for a 58-38 victory in a Big South Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at the G.B. Hodge Center.

The Spartans, who entered the game on a four-game losing streak, improved to 6-13 overall. The Blue Hose, who have lost 15 of their last 16 games, fell to 2-15.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the second half, where Presbyterian’s offense completely stalled. After trailing by just four points at halftime, 26-22, the Blue Hose managed only 16 points over the final 20 minutes, including a mere three points in the fourth quarter. Presbyterian shot a frigid 15 for 58 from the field for the game, a 25.9% clip, and compounded their struggles by making only 4 of 11 free throws.

South Carolina Upstate, conversely, found a consistent rhythm, shooting 50% on 24-of-48 shooting. While the Spartans committed 21 turnovers, they offset that with efficient scoring, particularly from Gallagher. The junior guard from Cookeville, Tennessee, was the game’s standout performer, adding three assists and a block to her game-high point total in 33 minutes. She spearheaded an 11-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters that broke the game open, turning a 35-31 lead into a commanding 46-31 advantage.

Aubrie Kierscht provided crucial support for Upstate with 14 points, while Aijah Palmore added eight points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Spartans also controlled the paint, outrebounding Presbyterian 39-30 and blocking six shots.

Presbyterian was led by Ja’Cia Cunningham’s 12 points, all of which came in the first half. Ore Ogunwolere, the team’s primary playmaker, finished with seven points and five assists but also committed five turnovers. The Blue Hose’s offensive rating of 59.2 points per 100 possessions underscored a night of profound struggle to generate quality shots.

The first half offered a glimpse of competitiveness. Presbyterian started strong, building an early 9-2 lead behind active defense and transition baskets. Cunningham hit a pair of three-pointers in the second quarter to keep the Blue Hose close, and the team entered the locker room with momentum despite shooting just 29% in the opening half.

That momentum evaporated after halftime. South Carolina Upstate tightened its defense, and Presbyterian’s offense devolved into a series of rushed shots and turnovers. The Blue Hose went scoreless for over six minutes during the Spartans’ pivotal 11-0 run, a drought from which they never recovered. In the fourth quarter, Presbyterian missed its first 11 field goal attempts and did not score until a Ja’Cia Cunningham free throw with 47 seconds remaining.

The victory was a welcome respite for South Carolina Upstate, which had lost several close games recently, including a two-point defeat to Winthrop just a week prior. For Presbyterian, the offensive woes continued a season-long trend; the Blue Hose have now failed to reach 45 points in six of their last seven games.

South Carolina Upstate will look to build on the win when it travels to face UNC Asheville next Wednesday. Presbyterian returns home to host UNC Asheville this Saturday, seeking to end its eight-game losing streak.