Box Score (PDF)

GREENSBORO, N.C. – College of Charleston shot 68 percent from the field in the second half Monday to pull away from the UNCG women's basketball team at Fleming Gymnasium and record an 88-61 win in a Southern Conference matchup. The Spartans are now 1-5 overall and 0-2 in league play while the Cougars improve to 4-4 and 2-0.

Latisha Harris led the way for College of Charleston with 23 points and nine rebounds, hitting nine of her 15 shots. Junior Breonna Patterson (Greensboro, N.C./Dudley) paced UNCG with 13 points while freshman Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) dropped in 12. Fellow rookie Sarafina Arthur-Williams (Germantown, Md./Winston Churchill) scored her first collegiate points in the contest and ended up with nine as well as four blocked shots. On the glass for the Spartans, sophomore Jarae Savage (Marietta, Ga./North Cobb) picked up 10 rebounds, including four offensive boards.

After a 28-percent showing from the field in the first half, the Blue and Gold hit 40 percent (15-for-38) in the final 20 minutes to end up at 34 percent. Thanks to the efficient second half, the Cougars finished at 49 percent (34-for-69 total). College of Charleston also held the upper hand in rebounding by a count of 48-38, and recorded 19 assists. Both squads turned the ball over 16 times while the Spartans ended up with a 5-4 advantage in blocks.

A jumper by Alyssa Frye put the Cougars up 8-3 at the 15:22 mark and College of Charleston was able to extend that lead to 20-9 on a layup by Cathryn Hardy – capping a 12-6 run. The cushion grew to as much as 24-11 before UNCG answered back. A fastbreak layup by Mason began the rally and a Patterson free throw left the score at 24-22 in favor of the visitors with 4:14 remaining in the half. A total of four different Spartans scored during the stretch.

The Cougars regained control from there, out-scoring UNCG 11-4 in the remaining time to assume a 35-26 advantage at the break. Mason had an attempt at the buzzer to score, but she missed and Courtney McKenzie grabbed the defensive rebound.

Hardy led all scorers with 11 points in the first 20 minutes while Arthur-Williams and Patterson had seven apiece. Arthur-Williams also posted all four of her blocked shots in the period while Savage grabbed eight rebounds.

Savage was able to trim the Spartans' deficit to 37-33 with a layup at the 17:58 mark, but College of Charleston re-established a 10-point lead when Harris made a layup of her own. UNCG answered again, scoring five-straight points to pull within 43-38 as freshman Ciara Morris (Hope Mills, N.C./South View) drained a layup. The Cougars would score the next 16 points to put the game out of reach. Mason was able to drain a three-point field goal with 5:41 left in the contest to reach double figures in points.

UNCG returns to the court Saturday, Dec. 8, continuing a five-game homestand with a nonconference game against Richmond. Tipoff from Fleming Gymnasium is set for 2 p.m. 

- UNCG -