Preview: Samford Bulldogs at South Carolina Upstate Spartans SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to halt losing streaks and build momentum before conference play will meet Sunday when the Samford Bulldogs visit the South Carolina Upstate Spartans in a nonconference women’s basketball game. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST at the G.B. Hodge Center. Both teams enter with identical 4-8 overall records, though each is mired in a recent skid. Samford has dropped four consecutive games, including a narrow 68-66 home loss to North Alabama on Dec. 7. South Carolina Upstate is looking to rebound from a 70-39 defeat to UNC Greensboro on Dec. 6. The matchup features a key backcourt battle between two guards providing offensive sparks for their respective teams. Samford’s Kaylee Yarbrough is coming off a 20-point performance against North Alabama and has averaged 13.4 points over her last five games. She will be a primary focus for the Bulldogs’ attack. For the Spartans, Vera Soderblom has been a consistent contributor. She led the team with 11 points in the loss to UNC Greensboro and posted a 9-rebound effort against Marshall on Nov. 21. Her ability to impact the game on both ends will be crucial for Upstate. Samford’s recent struggles have been marked by offensive inconsistency, scoring 66 points or fewer in five of their last six outings. The Bulldogs will need more production beyond Yarbrough; Frances Morris and Sierra Godbolt, who combined for 23 points in the last game, are likely candidates. South Carolina Upstate has also faced scoring challenges, being held under 55 points in three of its last four games. The Spartans will rely on their home court, where they are 3-3 this season, to ignite their offense. Support for Soderblom from players like Cassie Gallagher and Emma Blair will be essential. This contest represents a final nonconference tune-up for both programs before each embarks on its league schedule in January. For Samford, it’s the last of a long stretch of road games, while for Upstate, it’s a chance to gain confidence at home before a quick turnaround against Agnes Scott on Dec. 17. The team that can establish an early offensive rhythm and limit turnovers will likely gain the upper hand in what projects to be a closely contested game between evenly matched opponents.