NORFOLK, Va. –  USC Upstate rallied from a 16 point second half deficit and pulled away from Norfolk State in a clash of the Spartans to defeat NSU, 71-64,  in overtime on Thursday night at Joseph Echols Hall.

Upstate's Tee'Ara Copney had 16 points to lead three Upstate (1-2) players in double figures. Rae Corbo had 15 points and Quineshia Leonard had a career-high 14 points and 11 rebounds for NSU (1-1).

NSU extended an eight point halftime lead to 15 on a layup by Ebony Brown, making it 41-26, with 16:56 left in the second half.

NSU still led by 12, 49-37, after a jumper by Kashay Barnes with 11:27 left in the second half, but Upstate outscored NSU 16-0 over the next six minutes to overtake NSU's lead.

The run was capped off by a layup by Upstate's Lauren McRoberts and another shot by Shelby Hicks to give Upstate their first lead of the game, 53-49.

NSU battled back and retook the lead, 55-54 with two baskets by Leonard with 3:55 left on the clock.

In the final minute of regulation Leonard scored inside to put NSU up 57-55.

Lauren McRoberts led Upstate into overtime hitting a jumper with 20 seconds left in regulation.  

NSU had two chances to win in regulation but Barnes and Rachel Gordon missed two jumpers with two seconds left.

Tweety Hawkins scored the first two points for Upstate in overtime and the Spartans of Upstate never trailed in overtime.

NSU shot only 18 percent (2-of-11) from the floor and 34.2 percent (26-of-76) on the game.

Corbo scored all 15 of her points in the first half to help NSU take a 32-24 halftime lead.  She left the game with an injury in the second half.

Recca Trice added nine assists and three steals while Gordon tallied 12 rebounds for NSU.

Hawkins had 14 off the bench and McRoberts added 13 for Upstate.

The Spartans will take on Texas Southern on Monday at Joseph Echols Hall at 6 p.m.