Women's Basketball Welcomes USC Upstate for Ingles I-26 Rivalry on Wednesday

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Women's Basketball welcomes USC Upstate for the latest installment of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry on Wednesday (Jan. 21). Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. from Kimmel Arena.

UNC Asheville (7-12, 2-4 Big South Conference) vs. USC Upstate (6-13, 1-4 Big South Conference)

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 | 6:30 PM | Asheville, N.C. | Kimmel Arena | Ingles I-26 Rivalry

As a part of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry with USC Upstate, one element of the rivalry is a canned food drive. Fans who bring a minimum of three canned goods to tomorrow night's game will receive free admission to the game.

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Game Notes

UNC Asheville enters the contest at 7-12 overall and 2-4 in the Big South Conference after a 64-53 win at Presbyterian on Saturday (Jan. 17).
The Bulldogs lead the conference and are 17^th in the nation in field goal percentage defense (35.4 percent) and are 45^th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (20.5) while also being second in the conference and 45^th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (14.6). Asheville is also second in the conference and 47^th in the nation in rebounds per game (41.05), as well as ranking second in the conference and 23^rd in the nation in three-point percentage defense (26.2 percent).
Nia Green is second in the league and 52^nd in the nation in field goal percentage at 52.6 percent.
Asheville is fifth in the league in scoring offense (63.2 points per game) and second in the conference in scoring defense at 60.4 points per game.
Green is sixth in the Big South in scoring at 14.5 points per game, while Aileen Marquez is tied for 17^th in scoring at 9.6 points per game. Jamaria Freeman is also 19^th in the league at 9.2 points per game.
Green is tied for fourth in the conference in rebounding at 6.9 rebounds per game, while Deborah Orianegbena is tied for sixth at 6.8 rebounds per game. Journee McDaniel is also 14^th in the league at 5.9 rebounds per game, while Freeman is also tied for 23^rd at 4.5 rebounds per game.
Freeman is third in the league in assists per game at 4.1, while McDaniel and Green are tied for 12^th at 2.3 assists per game.
Freeman is also eighth in the league in steals per game at 1.9, while Green is 11^th at 1.7 per game.
Green is also second in the conference in blocks per game at 1.0.
USC Upstate comes into the matchup at 6-13 overall and 1-4 in the Big South Conference after a 58-38 win over Presbyterian back on Jan. 14.
Upstate leads the conference and ranks 26^th in the country in rebounding margin (+8.6), while also leading the conference and ranking 47^th in the country in defensive rebounds per game (28.0). Upstate also leads the conference and ranks 43^rd in the nation in rebounds per game (41.3).
Cassie Gallagher leads the conference and ranks 25^th in the nation in three-point percentage (42.6 percent), while Aubrie Kierscht is third in the conference and 51^st in the country in three-pointers made (46).
Upstate is sixth in the conference in scoring (58.9 points per game) and also fourth in the league in scoring defense (63.6 points per game).
Gallagher is fourth in the league in scoring at 15.4 points per game, while Kierscht is 12^th at 11.1 points per game.
Aijah Palmore is second in the league in rebounding at 7.7 rebounds per game, while Vera Soderblom is ninth in the conference at 6.5 rebounds per game.
Kinley Paterson is eighth in the league in assists per game at 2.8, while Gwen Jenkins is also tied for 17^th at 2.0 assists per game. Gallagher is also tied for 24^th at 1.6 assists per game.
This will be the 26^th all-time meeting between Asheville and USC Upstate, with Upstate leading the all-time series 14-11 and on a four-game winning streak in the series. The last meeting came on Feb. 12, 2025 inside Kimmel Arena with Upstate winning 60-51.

About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank

First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.

Women's Basketball Welcomes USC Upstate for Ingles I-26 Rivalry on Wednesday

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Players Mentioned

Jamaria Freeman

Nia Green

Aileen Marquez

Journee McDaniel

Deborah Orianegbena

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Women's Basketball Welcomes USC Upstate for Ingles I-26 Rivalry on Wednesday

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