Rachael Rose did not need long to make a big impact on the University of South Carolina Upstate women’s basketball program.
In just her second college game, Rose scored 23 points and did much more while leading the Spartans to their largest margin of victory over a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I opponent while playing under Abington Heights graduate Becky Burke with a 70-51 victory over South Carolina State Tuesday night.
Rose made seven steals, the most by a USC Upstate player since January, 2019.
The NEPA Elite Clark 17U alum and four-time, all-state high school player at Scranton Prep made 9 of her 15 shots while playing 35 minutes. Rose also grabbed six rebounds, all on the defensive end, and dished out four assists.
Rose converted an early three-point play for a 7-2 lead.
After beating the first-half buzzer with a layup for a 35-22 lead, Rose went out and scored 14 points in the second half. She finished 1-for-2 on 3-pointers and 4-for-5 from the line.
Rose scored twice during an 8-0 run to end the third quarter and open a 53-35 lead.
USC Upstate (1-1) plays its home opener Friday at 6 against Columbia International, then travels to play at the University of Florida Monday.
