University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Saturday, February 14
Spartanburg, SC
4 PM

UNC Asheville

at

USC Upstate

Deborah_Orianegbena_North_Florida

Women's Basketball Heads to USC Upstate Saturday for the Ingles I-26 Rivalry

02.13.2026 | Women's Basketball

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Women's Basketball heads to USC Upstate on Saturday (Feb. 14) for the latest installment of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry.   

UNC Asheville (9-16, 4-8 Big South Conference) at USC Upstate (8-17, 3-8 Big South Conference)

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 | 4 PM | Spartanburg, S.C. | G.B. Hodge Center

ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

Game Notes
  • Asheville comes into the game at 9-16 overall and 4-8 in the Big South Conference after a 73-45 loss to Radford on Wednesday (Feb. 11).
  • The Bulldogs are leading the conference and 20th in the nation in field goal percentage defense (36.4 percent), while also being second in the league and 40th in the nation in rebounds per game (41.0) and second in the league and 39th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (14.5). The Bulldogs are also 11th in the country in three-point percentage defense (25.9 percent).
  • Asheville is tied for fifth in the league in scoring offense at 61.1 points per game, while also ranking third in the league in scoring defense at 60.6 points per game.
  • Asheville is second in the league in opponent rebounding average at 35.9 rebounds per game.
  • Nia Green is fifth in the league in scoring at 15.2 points per game, while Jamaria Freeman is tied for 19th at 9.2 points per game.
  • Green is third in the league in rebounding at 7.2 rebounds per game, while Deborah Orianegbena is sixth in the league at 6.7 rebounds per game. Journee McDaniel is also tied for ninth at 6.5 rebounds per game, while Freeman is also 25th at 4.3 rebounds per game.
  • Freeman is third in the league in assists per game at 3.9, while Green is 10th at 2.5 assists per game. McDaniel is also tied for 15th at 2.0 assists per game.
  • Freeman is also tied for ninth in the league in steals per game at 1.9, while Green is tied for 12th at 1.6 per game. Green is also second in the league in blocks per game at 1.1.
  • Upstate comes into the matchup at 8-17 overall and 3-8 in the Big South Conference after a 67-58 win at Winthrop on Wednesday (Feb. 11).
  • Upstate leads the conference and ranks 20th in the nation in rebounding margin (+8.8), while also leading the league and ranking 35th in the nation in rebounds per game (41.1). They also lead the conference and rank 44th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (28.0).
  • Aubrie Kierscht leads the conference and is 32nd in the league in three-point percentage at 41.7 percent.
  • Upstate is seventh in the league in scoring at 58.1 points per game, while also ranking fifth in scoring defense allowing 64.5 points per game.
  • The Spartans also lead the conference in opponent rebounding average at 32.3 rebounds per game.
  • Cassie Gallagher is third in the league in scoring at 15.8 points per game, while Kierscht is 10th in the league at 11.4 points per game.
  • Aijah Palmore is second in the league in rebounding at 8.2 rebounds per game, while Vera Soderblom is fifth in the league at 6.8 rebounds per game.
  • Kinley Paterson is tied for eighth in the league at 2.6 assists per game, while Gwen Jenkins is tied for 15th at 2.0 assists per game. Gallagher is also tied for 23rd at 1.5 assists per game.
  • This will be the 27th all-time meeting between Asheville and Upstate, with Upstate leading the all-time series 14-12. Asheville won the earlier meeting in the season 57-56 on Jan. 21 at Kimmel Arena.
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.
 
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