Jan. 2, 2008

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Complete Radford Game Notes in PDF Format

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - After getting a 25-day break in the schedule in December, the USC Upstate women's basketball team is about to begin a tough 10-game-in-25-days stretch as it heads to one of the Big South's best programs in Radford for a 7 p.m. game.

The Spartans (4-6 overall) are coming off a hard-fought 52-50 win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday night. The team showed some mental toughness in the game, coming back from a nine-point first-half deficit and a seven-point second-half deficit to win. Junior Ebony Johnson showed some impressive athleticism, as the 5-7 guard became just the fifth player in school history to record 20 rebounds in a game. She also added 12 points to lead the Spartans.

Radford (10-4 overall) will be playing in its second game in two days, hosting Towson on Tuesday night. The Highlanders enter their two-game homestand at the Dedmon Center led by Corrie Fertitta, who averages 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

The contest is the Spartans' second against a Big South opponent this year. The team downed Charleston Southern, 80-68, on Nov. 16, for the Spartans' first Division I win.

Spartan Notables
• The Spartans are 1-5 all-time in games on Jan. 3 and 0-4 on the road, last dropping a 53-49 decision to USC Aiken in 2007.
• Upstate is 7-6 all-time against teams from Virginia and 1-1 all-time in Virginia, last beating Longwood, 85-65, on Nov. 27, 1990.
• Junior Courtney Bradley is three assists shy of passing Marlene Riley (1984-88) for fourth in school history with 309 career assists.
• Sophomore Shanea Wyant now has 66 points on the season, surpassing the total from her freshman season (61) in just 10 games.
• Sophomore Courtney Hawkins became the 25th player in school history to reach 30 career 3-pointers with her first of two trifectas vs. Bethune-Cookman.
• Junior Ebony Johnson became the 35th player in school history to reach 250 career boards with her final rebound vs. Bethune-Cookman.
• Freshman Tiffany Whiting is currently tied for ninth in Upstate's freshman record book with 16 3-pointers made.
• Head coach Tammy George enters tonight's game looking for her 75th win in her fifth season as a head coach.