For video of UNCG coach Wendy Palmer's postgame comments, click here.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG got a career-high 16 points from sophomore Janae' Stevenson but it was not enough as the Spartans fell on the road to Wofford in Southern Conference action on Saturday, 62-47.
Jazz Weaver matched her career high with 13 for the Spartans (2-7, 1-2 SoCon), who were playing without leading scorer Breonna Patterson for the third time this season.
"Breonna Patterson's a big part of our team and we didn't have her tonight," UNCG coach Wendy Palmer said. "It was tough. I'm asking Dayshaun (Richbow) to do a lot. Janae' stepped up in the second half and had a career night. I'm asking a lot of the girls to do a lot of different things for us, being that we have a few players that are out."
Logan Morris fell a point shy of her career high with 16 to lead the Terriers (7-3, 1-1 SoCon) and share game-high honors with Stevenson. Danielle Motley had 14 for Wofford, while Morgan Wrightson's 12 and Rachel Brittenham's 11 gave the Terriers four players in double figures.
Wofford bolted out of the gate to a 12-point lead midway through the first half, riding five early points from Brittenham and four each from Motley and Wrightson to an 18-6 advatange before the Spartans started chipping away.
A pair of Stevenson free throws and a Natalie Headley jumper got UNCG's deficit back into single digits at 18-10. The teams traded buckets before a Jarae Savage jumper and a Stevenson layup pulled the Spartans even closer at 20-16, but Wofford would stretch its lead back to eight. A pair of Weaver baskets to end the frame pulled UNCG within four at the half, 26-22.
The second half started out similarly to the first, with the Terriers stretching their lead back into double digits on Brittenham's four-point play that made it 35-25 less than five minutes into the half.
The Spartans would again cut it to four points after Weaver's personal 6-0 run made it 37-33, and after a pair of Morris free throws, Stevenson's jumper made it 39-35 with 12:22 to go.
That would be as close as UNCG would get, as Wofford would hold the Spartans scoreless for the next 4:54.
The Terriers saw their lead balloon to 17 points late before settling for the 15-point win, their largest ever over UNCG.
Wofford, which came into the contest leading the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense, showcased its defense by holding UNCG without a 3-pointer for the first time since Nov. 20, 2006, a span of 156 consecutive games.
Playing without Patterson, its leading scorer and 3-point threat, UNCG was 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
"Breonna is our spark," UNCG coach Wendy Palmer said. "She kind of makes us go. I've played her in four positions, 1-4, and she's barely 5-4. It's a huge presence that we do not have."
With Patterson out of the lineup, Richbow played all 40 minutes at the point for the second time this season. She stuffed the stat sheet with six points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
In addition to her big night scoring, Stevenson also blocked a shot, pushing her career total to 47 in just 37 games and moving her into a tie for 10th place in UNCG career history.
The Spartans forced 24 Wofford turnovers, converting them into 12 points, but the Terriers managed 20 points off 22 UNCG miscues.
UNCG returns to action Monday night at Furman in Greenville, S.C. The teams will meet at 7 p.m.
AGATE
WOFFORD 62, UNCG 47
UNCG (2-7, 1-2)
Janae' Stevenson 6-13 4-4 16; Jazz Weaver 6-13 1-2 13; Natalie Headley 3-9 1-1 7; Dayshaun Richbow 3-12 0-1 6; Sidnei Harmon 1-9 1-2 3; Jarae Savage 1-7 0-0 2; Sarah Folwell 0-1 0-0 0; Nneka Awuruonye 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 20-67 7-10 47.
WOFFORD (7-3, 1-1)
Morris,Logan 6-11 4-4 16; Motley,Daniella 5-10 4-4 14; Wrightson,Morgan 4-14 2-3 12; Brittenham,Rachel 3-5 2-3 11; Masalin,Mariah 1-6 3-4 5; Kirby,Lauren 1-5 0-0 2; Frost,Erin 1-1 0-0 2; Merritt,Michelle 0-0 0-0 0; Moorhouse,April 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 21-57 15-18 62.
UNCG.......................... 22 25 - 47
Wofford....................... 26 36 - 62
3-point goals--UNCG 0-6 (; Jazz Weaver 0-1; Dayshaun Richbow 0-1; Jarae Savage 0-3; Sarah Folwell 0-1), Wofford 5-13 (Brittenham,Rachel 3-4; Wrightson,Morgan 2-6; Masalin,Mariah 0-3). Fouled out--UNCG-None, Wofford-None. Rebounds--UNCG 38 (Dayshaun Richbow 7), Wofford 44 (Wrightson,Morgan 8). Assists--UNCG 9 (Dayshaun Richbow 8), Wofford 14 (Brittenham,Rachel 6). Total fouls--UNCG 16, Wofford 13. Technical fouls--UNCG-None, Wofford-None. A-131
- UNCG -
