Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Radford scored a season-high 81 points and Brooke McElroy registered her second double-double of the season, but it wasn't enough as the Highlanders fell at USC Upstate, 87-81, Saturday evening from the Hodge Center.

The Highlanders (3-7) nearly erased a late 11-point second half deficit, getting within two points (74-72) with 3:14 on the clock, but the Spartans hit 13-of-18 free throws down the stretch, including 10 straight, to hold on for the win.

Coming off a 15-rebound effort in her last contest, McElroy pulled down 14 boards and added a team-best 18 points, which was a Radford career-high. Da'Naria Erwin Spencer matched McElroy's mark with 18 points to go along with a season-high eight assists and three steals.

Radford answered a 25-7 first half run by USC Upstate (5-4) by scoring nine of the final 12 points of the first half, including a three at the buzzer by Denay Wood to go into the break down, 46-38. Wood finished with 13 points and a team-best four steals.

Erwin Spencer led the Highlanders at the break with 11 points, while Chelsea McMillan and Tee'Ara Copney combined for 33 first half points for the Spartans.

In a sloppy first half that featured 33 turnovers, both teams shot 45 percent or better as Radford tallied its highest first-half scoring output of the season and reached the 30-point mark in the first stanza on the road for the first time this season.

Early in the second half, the Highlanders whittled away at the Spartans' lead and got within one (54-53) on a pair of free throws at 15:55 by Victoria Hamilton. The charity tosses capped off a 15-6 run that started after Upstate scored the first two points of the half to take a 48-38 lead.

The Spartans pushed their lead to 70-59 with just under eight minutes to go. Following a timeout, Radford went on a 13-4 run capped off by a pair of McElroy buckets to get the Highlanders within striking distance, but Upstate scored its final 13 points from the charity stripe.

The Highlanders shot 37 percent from field, while the Spartans shot 46 percent. Both teams struggled holding onto the ball as they combined for 56 turnovers. Radford did win the battle, forcing 31 miscues, the second time this season their opponent recorded 30-plus turnovers.

Copney led three Spartans with 22 points and eight assists. McMillan and Kendra Wallace added 21 and 20 points, respectively. Wallace finished with a double-double, tying McElroy for a game-best 14 boards.

Radford wraps up its three-game road swing on Tuesday, Dec. 21 up the road at Virginia Tech for a 7 p.m. tip.