SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Trinity Johnson's late three pointer broke a tie game and two free throws in the final seconds of play lifted USC Upstate to a 61-58 win over Furman in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Hodge Center.
The win improves USC Upstate to 5-6 on the season while Furman falls to 6-5 with the loss.
With the score tied 56-56, Johnson drained a 3-pointer from the top of the circle with 1:30 remaining to give the Spartans a 59-56 lead.
Furman's
Jada Session was fouled on the ensuing possession and converted both free throws with 1:03 to go to pull the Paladins within 59-58.
The Spartans were whistled for a charging foul on their next trip down the floor, but the Paladins couldn't capitalize as
Tate Walters was called for a charge after rubbing off a pair of high screens with three seconds on the clock. Â Johnson salted the game away by draining two free throws in the game's final second.
Johnson led all scorers with 17 points, followed by Dakota Reeves with 16.
Walters paced Furman with 14 points, and
Niveya Henley finished with 13. Â
Jada Session added 12, and
Sydney Ryan rounded out the Paladins' double figure scoring effort with 10 points.
Furman fell behind 19-11 after one quarter but rallied in the second period to take a 32-28 halftime lead.
Session's layup to open the second half extended the advantage to 34-28, but the Spartans rallied with an 9-0 run, capped by a Reeves 3-pointer to go up, 37-34, four minutes into the third quarter.