Feb. 25, 2008

Final Stats

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Sophomore Courtney Hawkins (Greer, S.C./Greer) became just the fifth player in school history to record 35 points in a game, but it wasn't enough to lift the USC Upstate women's basketball team past Campbell in Atlantic Sun play on Monday night, with the Camels taking a 62-47 win in the final game in the 55-year history at Carter Gymnasium.

"It was a great singular performance out of Courtney," Upstate head coach Tammy George said. "There's no question about that, however, the rest of the team wasn't able to answer the bell for us (Monday). We certainly had our chances and we competed throughout the game, but Campbell was able to jump on us in the second half and keep us down."

Hawkins, who fell one shy of Gwen Proctor's school record of 36 set against Converse on Feb. 8, 1986, joins five players in the 35-point club. She was brilliant during the game, hitting 12-of-17 shots in the game, including three 3-pointers. She added an 8-for-9 day at the free throw line to become the first Upstate player to score 35 since Brenda Wofford posted 35 against Limestone on Dec. 2, 1999.

Only three other players scored four Upstate, as sophomore Shanea Wyant (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jefferson) scored six points, junior Ebony Johnson (Columbia, S.C./Ridgeview) posted four points, four rebounds, six assists, two blocks and five steals, and sophomore Cherale Powell (Wilkesboro, N.C./Wilkes C.C.) added two points.

After a poor-shooting first half, the Lady Camels hit 11-of-14 shots to open the second half, taking a 46-31 lead with 10:49 remaining. Hawkins did her best to keep the Spartans in the game, posting 24 points in the second half. Hawkins helped Upstate pull within eight at 39-31 with 13:33 left after dropping in 11 straight Upstate points, but a 3-point play from Marlena Murphy helped spark the Camels on a 9-0 run. From there, the Spartans never got within 12 points.

The Spartans and Camels both struggles in the first half, with the teams combining for 28 turnovers and shooting a combined 25 percent (13-for-51) from the floor. Hawkins paced Upstate, scoring 11 points in the half, including nine of the team's first 13 points, as it pulled within 14-13 with 8:02 left. Neither team scored for the next 2:55. A layup from Lauren Arthur helped spark the Camels on a 9-2 run that helped them close the half with a 23-15 lead.

Lauren Yesh scored 14 points, 12 in the second half, to help lead the Camels. Murphy finished with nine points and 12 rebounds. Maggie Rich added 10 points, six points, five assists and three steals.

USC Upstate will close out its 2007-08 season on Saturday when it faces A-Sun frontrunner ETSU at the Hodge Center at 1 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the men's program.

Notes
The Spartans are 5-5 on Feb. 25.

Sophomore Courtney Hawkins has posted eight straight games of 15 or more points, the longest streak of her career.

Freshman Tiffany Whiting posted a career-high eight rebounds, passing her previous best of seven against Stetson on Feb. 11, 2008.

Sophomores made up 100 percent of the scoring for the Spartans in the first half, with sophomores Courtney Hawkins (11) and Shanea Wyant (4) combining for all 15.

Sophomore Courtney Hawkins has scored in double figures in 22 of 28 games this year and has posted 20 or more seven times.

Sophomore Courtney Hawkins is now 15th in school history with 450 career points.

Junior Ebony Johnson tied her career-high with six assists.