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BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech women's basketball team will host USC Upstate on Sunday, Dec. 15 in the Hokies final home game before the holiday break. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum.

Game Information
Date/Time: December 15, 2013/2 p.m.
Opponent: USC Upstate
Site: Blacksburg, Va. (Cassell Coliseum)
Radio: 100.7 FM WNMX / HokiesXtra - $
Talent: Andrew Allegretta, play-by-play
TV: n/a
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Live Video: HokiesXtra - $
Game Notes: Virginia Tech | USC Upstate

The Hokies
The last time out, Virginia Tech defeated No. RV/25 Michgan State, 72-66 on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Cassell Coliseum.

Tech took a 13 point lead in the first half, but Michigan State answered with a run to go ahead by three with four and a half minutes left on the clock. Tech closed out the half with a run, taking a seven point lead in to the break. In the second half, Tech again went up by double-digits and led 55-43 just past the midway point, but the Spartans responded with another run to tie it up three minutes later. The two teams were tied at 59 with 4:07 to go as the Hokies went on a 10-1 run to take the 69-60 advantage with just over a minute remaining. The Spartans threatened late and cut it to four with 21 seconds to play, but a pair of free throws from Monet Tellier secured the win for the Hokies.

Uju Ugoka led four Hokies in double-digits with 19 points and 10 rebounds to record her fourth consecutive double-double. Vanessa Panousis added 15 points while Hannah Young and Tellier dropped in 14 points each. Tellier was also just one board shy of a double-double with nine rebounds.

Ugoka leads Tech on the season, averaging 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. She is one of four players in the ACC currently averaging a double-double and ranks fifth in scoring and second in rebounding in the league. Vanessa Panousis is adding 11.7 points per game while Tellier is tallying 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, ranking third in the ACC.

The Spartans
USC Upstate edged UNC Asheville, 67-66 in the team’s last outing on Dec. 7 in Asheville, N.C. Brittany Starling had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans while Shamayne Edwards came off the bench to knock in 14 points. Brittany Clency added 12 points and eight boards and Shelby Hicks tallied 10 points.

Virginia Tech and USC Upstate have both played Indiana this season as the Spartans traveled to Bloomington three days prior to the Hokies trip. Upstate fell to to the Hoosiers, 87-38 on Dec. 1.

Starling is leading the team with 11.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Edwards is adding 10.7 ppg while Alex Stanford is tallying 7.3 ppg. Toni Romiti leads the team with 17 assists on the season.

The Series
Virginia Tech defeated USC Upstate in the only other meeting between the two teams, winning an overtime game, 68-62, on Feb. 2, 2009. Former Tech standout Utahye Drye had 30 points and 16 rebounds in the game and was the last Hokie to have 30-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in a game prior to Ugoka accomplishing the feat last week at Indiana.

Up Next: The Hokies will travel to Radford on Saturday, Dec. 21 for their final game before the holiday break. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at at the Dedmon Center in Radford, Va.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WBBall