Game Notes (PDF)

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The UNCG women's basketball team makes its lone appearance at the Greensboro Coliseum Saturday, hosting No. 23 Florida State in the first game of a doubleheader with the Spartan men's team. The Blue and Gold will attempt to win its third-straight game overall and improve to 4-3 at home. UNCG downed North Carolina Central 49-39 Wednesday Fleming Gymnasium.

The Spartans (3-6) allowed their fewest amount of points in a single game since limiting Fordham to 39 in a 50-39 victory at Fleming Gymnasium Dec. 13, 2008. UNCG also set a program single-game mark for blocked shots with 11 on the night as three players had at least three. Junior Janae' Stevenson (Columbia, S.C./Eau Claire) moved into fourth place on the Spartans' career blocks list, now owning 82 stuffs in less than three seasons.

For the sixth time this season, freshman Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) led the Blue and Gold in scoring with 12 points while fellow rookie Ciara Morris (Hope Mills, N.C./South View) paced the squad with nine rebounds – four on the offensive glass. In her second game of the season, sophomore Jessica Collins (Raleigh, N.C./Eckerd College) dished out a career-best five assists – including a spectacular dish to Mason for a layup early in the second half.

• Saturday's contest marks the second meeting between UNCG and Florida State with the Seminoles winning the first meeting by a 65-57 score on Feb. 9, 1978.

• UNCG holds a 19-57 record against current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Spartans have faced Boston College (0-1), Clemson (1-4), Duke (4-9), Florida State (0-1), Maryland (1-1), Miami (0-1), NC State (1-12), North Carolina (5-11), Virginia (0-3), Virginia Tech (1-7) and Wake Forest (6-7) but have never played Georgia Tech.

• The Seminoles bring a 9-1 record to the Greensboro Coliseum with their lone loss occurring by a single point at Nebraska (78-77). Florida State scores 83.4 points per game and limits opponents to 56.6. Senior guard Leonor Rodriguez paces the team in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per contest. 

In its last outing, the Seminoles rolled past Mercer 94-42. Florida State had a season-high 59 rebounds and a season-low 12 turnovers. FSU connected on 51.3 percent of its field goal attempts and held the Bears to just 23.2 percent from the floor, including 1-of-17 from three. Only one Mercer player scored more than six points. Natasha Howard produced a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds while four other Florida State players dropped in double figures offensively. 

The Seminoles held the Bears to just 20-percent shooting in the first half on the way to racking up a 42-21 halftime advantage. FSU then drained 22 of 36 shots (61 percent) in the final 20 minutes to build the final margin.

SCORING IS WAY UP...
After averaging just 49.6 points per game last season, the Spartans are scoring 58.4 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 526 points, the rookies have scored 288 (55 percent).

DEFENSIVE CLAMPS...
UNCG limited North carolina Central to just 39 points in Wednesday's victory at Fleming Gymnasium. The Spartans allowed their fewest amount of points in a single game since holding Fordham to 39 in a 50-39 victory at Fleming Gymnasium Dec. 13, 2008.

PLAY THE D...
The Spartans have played some intense defense so far this season, racking up 117 steals and forcing 214 turnovers. Mason owns a team-best 19 steals while UNCG ranks first in the league and 23rd nationally with 13.0 per contest. 

THREE-POINT STREAK AT 29...
UNCG has nailed at least one three-point field goal in the last 29 games and 184 of the last 185. The Spartans owned a streak of 155-straight contests with a triple until they went 0-6 at Wofford Dec. 17, 2011.

STUFFED...
Junior Janae' Stevenson is rapidly moving her way up the UNCG career blocked shots list. As a freshman, she swatted 36 shots, the fourth-most in a single season in school history. She did two better with 38 blocked shots last season. With 82 to her credit now, she is fourth in program career history. Stevenson blocked a career-high four shots in UNCG's 55-54 win over Georgia Southern last year. Should she maintain her current pace, Stevenson should easily surpass UNCG's career record of 121 by Rebecca Viverette (1994-98) by the time her career is over. 

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
UNCG plays its final nonconference game when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., for a matchup with UAB at Bartow Arena. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.

- UNCG -