OPENING TIP
Score: Queens 65 | USC Upstate 58
Records: Queens (2-3) | USC Upstate (1-5)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center (Spartanburg, S.C.)
THE SHORT STORY
Queens University women's basketball team clinched a hard-fought victory over USC Upstate on Friday night in the G.B. Hodge Center. The Royals' balanced offensive attack and stingy defense secured a 65-58 win. With the win the Royals improved to 2-3, while the Spartans dropped to 1-5 in the loss. This is the Royals third straight win over USC Upstate.
FROM COACH BROWN
"We traveled well today! Our fans were amazing. It felt like a home game. This win was a total team effort. Everyone was focused and contributed during this win. I couldn't be prouder of this group."
BY THE NUMBERS
Ana Barreto led the Royals with 19 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and an impressive 5-of-8 from three-point range. She added three rebounds and played a game-high 39 minutes.
Jermany Mapp contributed 12 points on efficient 6-of-8 shooting and was pivotal in transition with five assists and two steals.
Jordyn Weaver scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, and went a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. Weaver's double figure point streak continues to five straight games.
Aylesha Wade added 12 points, shooting 4-of-13 from the field, while also contributing four rebounds and steady defense throughout her 31 minutes on the court.
Magda Freire scored six points, including two three-pointers, and added four rebounds and a steal off the bench. Freire made her first career start for the Royals in the win.
Kamara Mills added a three-point basket in her second appearance of the season.
NOTABLE MOMENTS
The Royals set the tone early, with Jordyn Weaver scoring from the paint off a turnover to start the game. Queens' defense quickly forced multiple turnovers, building a 14-11 lead by the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Barreto knocked down multiple three-pointers, including a critical shot at 9:49 that extended the Royals' lead to six points.
Early in the third, Jermany Mapp scored back-to-back buckets in transition, pushing Queens to a double-digit lead. With USC Upstate mounting a comeback, Jordyn Weaver calmly sank two free throws to extend the Royals lead back to eight.
Queens led for 35 minutes and 37 seconds of the game, compared to just 1 minute and 14 seconds for USC Upstate, showcasing Queens' control throughout.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Queens shot 39.7 percent from the field, slightly below USC Upstate 43.9 percent. Queens excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 37.5% of their three-pointers compared to 33.3 percent from the Spartans.
USC Upstate shot 69 percent from the free throw line making 20-29 attempts compared to Queens 58.8 percent (10-17). Despite struggling from the line, the Royals made their free throws count in critical moments late in the game.
The Royals made a season high nine three pointers in the win.
Defensively, Queens forced 30 turnovers from USC Upstate, which they converted into 30 points.
USC Upstate held a slight edge in rebounding, pulling down 35 boards compared to Queens 29. The Spartans were particularly effective on second chances, scoring 12 points off offensive rebounds compared to the Royals two.
FROM ANA BARRETO
"Confidence comes from effort and belief. Coach Brown and all the other coaches believed in me, and today I proved it. Hard work leads to success."
NEXT UP
Queens returns to Curry Arena for a Tuesday night contest against South Carolina State. The series history with the Bulldogs is tied at 1-1. The Royals fell on the road 58-76 in the last meeting in Orangeburg, S.C. Jordyn Weaver led Queens with 19 points and nine rebounds. Tipoff on Tuesday night is set for 6 PM and will be streamed on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Queens Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram for news and updates throughout the season. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media to stay up to date on all the Royals sports in action.
