SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — In a cross-state women’s NCAA Division I matchup defined by offensive efficiency and a flurry of three-pointers, the South Carolina Upstate Spartans held off a late charge from the South Carolina State Bulldogs to secure a 78-69 victory on Monday night at the G.B. Hodge Center.

The game was a tale of two contrasting offensive philosophies. South Carolina Upstate leveraged a scorching shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc, to build a lead that proved insurmountable despite a sloppy performance with the ball. The Spartans shot a remarkable 53.3 percent from the field, connecting on 10 of 20 three-point attempts, while the Bulldogs struggled to find their rhythm, finishing at just 36.2 percent from the floor and 24 percent from deep.

The contest was tightly contested through the first half. South Carolina State’s Lemyiah Harris opened the scoring with a three-pointer, setting the stage for a back-and-forth opening quarter that ended with the Spartans holding a narrow 19-18 advantage. The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Upstate maintaining a slight edge to take a 37-33 lead into halftime.

The third quarter proved to be the decisive stretch. The Spartans came out of the break with increased defensive intensity and continued their efficient scoring, outscoring the Bulldogs 20-14 in the period to extend their lead to 57-47. The Bulldogs were hampered by 17 turnovers in the game, which the Spartans converted into 20 points, while Upstate’s own 22 turnovers led to 25 points for South Carolina State.

A late-game push from the Bulldogs made the final minutes interesting. South Carolina State exploded for 22 points in the fourth quarter, cutting into what was once a double-digit deficit. However, the Spartans answered every challenge, matching the Bulldogs’ intensity with 21 points of their own in the final period, largely from the free-throw line where they went 20 for 28 on the night, to seal the victory.

The individual battle was highlighted by a spectacular shooting display from South Carolina Upstate’s Aubrie Kierscht. The guard from Salina, Kan., poured in a game-high 26 points in just 29 minutes, fueled by a sharp 4-for-8 shooting from three-point range. She was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. She was ably supported by Cassie Gallagher of Cookeville, Tenn., who added 18 points, including two crucial free throws in the final seconds, and contributed two blocks.

South Carolina State was led by the formidable inside presence of Shaunice Reed. The Seattle native dominated the paint, scoring 22 points and hauling in a game-high 15 rebounds, with seven coming on the offensive glass. Lemyiah Harris from Anniston, Ala., provided a significant scoring punch with 13 points, while Angie Juste-Jean of Montreal, Canada, chipped in 10 points.

Despite being outrebounded 44-31, including a 15-8 disadvantage on the offensive glass, South Carolina Upstate’s superior shooting was the ultimate difference-maker. The Spartans also capitalized on their possessions more effectively, posting an offensive rating of 107.9 points per 100 possessions compared to the Bulldogs’ 86.7.

The win improves South Carolina Upstate’s season record to 2-3, while South Carolina State evens its record at 2-2. The game was played in front of an announced attendance of 349.

South Carolina State will look to rebound on the road this Thursday against Queens University of Charlotte. South Carolina Upstate begins a two-game road trip on Friday at Marshall.