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SPARTANBURG, SC—USC Upstate had four double-figure scorers led by Raven Jefferson's game-high 18 points and the Spartans used a 12-4 run in the final 4:15 en route to a 75-58 win over visiting, NJIT in women's basketball ASUN Conference action Saturday afternoon at Hodge Center.

Both teams entered Saturday's game with a 7-8 overall mark and at the end, Upstate recorded its third straight win, improving to .500 (8-8) while picking up its first ASUN win of the season.  NJIT dropped its second straight game, falling to 7-9 overall and 0-1 in the ASUN.

NJIT, down by as many as 12 in the first half, used an 8-1 spurt midway through the third quarter, knotting the game at 43 on a jumper by Alana Dudley.  USC Upstate responded scoring six straight to end the quarter with a 49-43 lead.

Freshman Tracey Brereton opened the fourth quarter with a layup, cutting the Spartan lead to four, 45-49, but the Spartans capped a 17-2 run, extending its lead to 16, 63-47 at the 5:39 mark.  The Highlander scored the next four, slimming the deficit to 11, 52-63, the closest NJIT would get to the home team, who went on to win 75-58.

Upstate senior guard Jefferson led the game with 18 points – nine of which from behind the arc, while grabbing seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Freshman center Riley Popplewell notched a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, including four steals and three assists.  She finished 6-for-11 from the field and 5-of-7 at the free throw line.

Junior guard Brittney Delva combined for 14 points, including a game-best seven assists while sophomore guard Bailey Wensler added 12 points on 4-of-5 from behind the arc.

Redshirt sophomore guard Tatianna Torres scored her fifth straight double-digit game, leading the Highlanders with 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals.

Senior guard Alana Dudley scored 12 points while senior forward Leah Horton chipped in 11 points and five rebounds.  Freshman forward Danielle Tunstall added eight points and eight rebounds.

USC Upstate jumped out of the gates early on a 9-3 spurt.  NJIT scored the next seven points, sparked by an old-fashion three-point play by Horton, as the Highlanders took a one-point advantage, 10-9, with 5:03 on the clock.  After a 14-14 tie, Upstate scored seven straight points for a seven-point advantage, 21-14, to end the quarter.

NJIT's Kelly Guarino knocked down a three-pointer to open the second quarter, cutting the Spartan lead to four, 29-33.  USC Upstate pushed it lead up to seven, 42-35, on a three-pointer by Wenlser with less than six to go.

The Highlanders scored six consecutive points, pulling within one of the home team, 41-42 at the 2:54 mark.  After one-of-two made by Upstate's Vanessa Agrusa, NJIT tied up the contest at 43 on a jumper by Dudley.

NJIT will break for a week and return to action on Saturday, hosting North Florida at 1pm in the Fleisher Athletic Center.