SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In a game that featured 10 ties lead and nine lead changes, the Lipscomb (5-19, 2-7) women’s basketball team faltered in the fourth quarter to give USC Upstate (9-15, 2-7) a 89-75 win at the G.B. Hodge Center.

The Lady Bisons headed into the fourth quarter down just three, 58-55, before giving up 31 and being outscored by 11 in the final frame.

Leading scorer Laure Assena went down with an injury midway through the fourth, halting the Lipscomb offense. The junior had scored a career-high 18 points on 8-12 shooting and grabbed five rebounds prior to the injury.

Head coach Greg Brown was also given his first technical of the season in the fourth quarter.

Senior Alex Banks added 17 points of her own on 7-12 shooting to go along with four rebounds.

Junior Meredith Lovelady also finished in double-figures with 12, nine of which came in the first quarter.

Junior Loren Cagle once again led the team in both rebounds and assists, finishing with seven and nine of each, respectively.

Head Coach Greg Brown’s Thoughts:

“I really liked Laure’s aggressiveness tonight. It’s a carryover from her practices. She’s battled through a couple of injuries. Maggie [Schweer] will take care of her.”

“It was a back-and-forth game for most of it and neither team made a lot of defensive stops. Offensive rebounding and penetration were the two things that were the difference. We will have to continue working at those before our next game.”

QUICK HITS:

• Three Spartans finished in double-figures: Tamera Thorpe (23), Vanessa Agrusa (21), and Raven Jefferson (17).
• Lipscomb lost the rebounding battle 38-35, but won the assist battle 18-11.
• The Lady Bisons bench outscored Upstate’s 40-36.
• Lipscomb also gained eight fast-break points to Upstate’s six.

UP NEXT: The Lady Bisons will have a quick turnaround with a road trip to Florida this weekend to take on Stetson on Saturday and FGCU on Monday.