Dec. 29, 2007

Gametracker

Complete Bethune-Cookman Game Notes in PDF Format

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate women's basketball team will look to shake the rust off from a 25-day Holiday layoff between games on New Year's Eve at 7 p.m. when it looks to ring in the New Year with a win against Bethune-Cookman.

The Spartans (3-6 overall) will look to get back to the balanced scoring attack of early in the season, when four players posted double-digit efforts in two of the first three games. Freshman Tiffany Whiting, who factored into both of those double-digit efforts, has heated up in the last two games, hitting three triples in each game after being held scoreless behind-the-arc for three games. Sophomore Courtney Hawkins will also look to return to form, as the ninth-leading scorer in the conference posted a season-low four points at Georgia Tech.

Bethune-Cookman enters the game at 3-7 overall, having won two of their last three games, including a thrilling 60-58 win over North Carolina Central on Dec. 17. The Wildcats are led by freshman Demetria Frank, who averages 10.6 points and 2.8 assists per game.

This is the first meeting between the Spartans and the Wildcats.

Spartan Notables
• The Spartans are 1-1 all-time in games on New Year's Eve, last beating Winston-Salem State, 81-78 in 2004.
• This is Upstate's second game against a MEAC opponent this year, falling to North Carolina A&T, 92-54, on Nov. 27. The Spartans are 1-5 all-time against the MEAC.
• Junior Courtney Bradley is eight assists shy of passing Marlene Riley (1984-88) for fourth in school history with 309 career assists.
• Junior Courtney Bradley became the fourth player in school history to reach 100 career 3-pointers at Georgia Tech.
• Sophomore Courtney Hawkins is one 3-pointer shy of becoming the 25th player in school history to reach 30 in a career.
• Sophomore Shanea Wyant needs three points to pass her total from her freshman season (61).
• Freshman Tiffany Whiting is currently 10th in Upstate's freshman record book with 15 3-pointers made.
• Freshman Kasey Thompson has a 3-pointer in each of the last four games, averaging 7.3 points in that span.
• Junior Ebony Johnson is 20 rebounds away from becoming the 35th player in school history to reach 250 in a career.
• Freshman Oceana Jackson will be out for the remainder of the season after tearing her ACL in practice on Dec. 10.