Game Notes (PDF)

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The UNCG women's basketball team takes on its second-straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Wednesday, hosting North Carolina Central at 7 p.m. in a nonconference contest at Fleming Gymnasium. The Spartans look to build on a 71-63 home win over Norfolk State Saturday which snapped a four-game skid.

The Spartans' 71-point output marked the highest for the squad this season. The Blue and Gold (2-6) also improved to 20-1 in their last 21 contests when scoring 70 or more points and posted its first win over NSU (1-8) in three tries.

Also reaching double digits in the scoring column were freshman Ciara Morris (Hope Mills, N.C./South View), junior Janae' Stevenson (Columbia, S.C./Eau Claire) and sophomore Jarae Savage (Marietta, Ga./North Cobb) who netted 12, 11 and 10 points respectively. Mason, Morris and Stevenson each pulled down seven rebounds to pace UNCG on the glass while Mason dished out a team-best four assists.

Stevenson went to the line 12 times in the game and hit 11 free throws, marking the first time a Spartan has hit that many since Samika Foster did so Nov. 20, 2000 against Charlotte.

• Wednesday's contest marks the fifth meeting between UNCG and North Carolina Central with the Spartans holding a 4-0 lead in the series. UNCG won last year's contest 70-53 in Durham. Then sophomore Breonna Patterson netted 16 to lead the Spartans while Janae' Stevenson dropped in a career-high 15 points. Sidnei Harmon and Jarae Savage added 10 apiece. The Blue and Gold shot 54.1 percent from the floor, making 31 of its 61 attempts.

• UNCG holds a 25-8 record against schools in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Spartans have faced Coppin State (0-1), Hampton (1-0), Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-0), Morgan State (3-0), Norfolk State (1-2), North Carolina A&T (13-5), North Carolina Central (4-0) and South Carolina State (1-0) but have never met Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Howard or Savannah State.

• North Carolina Central enters the game looking for its first win of the year after falling to 0-12 thanks to a 63-44 loss to Winthrop at home Saturday. Chasidy Williams poured in 16 of her team-high 20 points after intermission and added 11 rebounds for her 12th career double-double while rookie guard Amber Neely matched a season-high with 11 points and junior forward Tiffany Gary contributed eight points and nine boards. Winthrop bettered the home team by shooting 39.7 percent (23-for-58) from the field compared to 31.4 percent (16-for-51) by the Lady Eagles. However, NCCU connected on 12 of 15 free throws (80.0 percent) stacked up against Winthrop's 5-for-7 shooting from the charity stripe (71.4 percent). Besides Winthrop's blistering shooting from long distance, many other statistical categories were nearly even. In fact, both teams had identical rebounding numbers, with 36 total boards, including 15 on the offensive glass.

SCORING IS WAY UP...
After averaging just 49.6 points per game last season, the Spartans are scoring 59.6 a contest this year. UNCG netted 71 points against Norfolk, its most since dropping in 70 at North Carolina Central Nov. 26, 2011.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE FOR POINTS...
UNCG's seven freshmen have earned valuable playing experience this season and are responsible for over half of the Spartans' offensive output. Of UNCG's 477 points, the rookies have scored 258 (54 percent).

FROSH LEADING THE WAY...
Freshman point guard Lucy Mason has enjoyed a fine start to her UNCG career as she is averaging a team-best 15.1 points per game. She has led the squad in scoring five times while averaging 34.6 minutes played. Mason also currently ranks seventh among SoCon players in scoring average.

PLAY THE D...
The Spartans have played some intense defense so far this season, racking up 103 steals and forcing 189 turnovers. Mason owns a team-best 18 steals while UNCG ranks first in the league and 21st nationally with 12.9 per contest.

LUCKY NUMBER 7(0)...
Over the last four seasons, UNCG is 20-1 when scoring at least 70 points. The Spartans' last loss when scoring 70 was nearly five years ago, Dec. 20, 2007, when UNCG lost at UCF, 76-73. The Blue and Gold reached 70 points just once last year, but it turned out to be in victory as UNCG downed N.C. Central 70-53 on the road. 

THREE-POINT STREAK AT 28...
UNCG has nailed at least one three-point field goal in the last 28 games and 183 of the last 184. The Spartans owned a streak of 155-straight contests with a triple until they went 0-6 at Wofford Dec. 17, 2011. 

JUST FINE IN FLEMING...
UNCG has historically been dominant in Fleming Gym, posting a 195-86 (.694) mark at the venue. In 23 years, UNCG has had just four losing seasons in the facility. Last season, the playing surface was christened Lynne Agee Court in honor of the former UNCG coach, who retired in March 2011 after 30 years at the helm. The court was officially dedicated at halftime of UNCG's Dec. 3 contest against Samford.

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
UNCG will close its five-game homestand with a contest against ACC foe Florida State at the Greensboro Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for noon. 

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