Game Notes (PDF)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The UNCG women's basketball team plays its fifth road game in its last six outings Monday, heading south to Spartanburg, S.C. for a matchup against Wofford. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. at the Benjamin Johnson Arena.
The Spartans look to snap a nine-game losing streak as well as pick up their first league win of the season. The Blue and Gold came close at home Saturday, but fell to Georgia Southern 63-56.
Junior guard Breonna Patterson (Greensboro, N.C./Dudley) led all UNCG scorers with 12 points while classmate and forward Janae' Stevenson (Columbia, S.C./Eau Claire) fell just one rebound short of her fourth double-double in five contests as she tallied 11 points and nine boards before fouling out late in the game. Also working the glass for the Spartans was senior forward Sidnei Harmon (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) who pulled down eight caroms.
The Eagles knocked down 40 percent of their shots from the field (25-for-62) while UNCG ended up at 38 percent (20-for-53). The Spartans were awarded 21 free throw attempts but hit just 12. Conversely, Georgia Southern drained eight of its 11 tries from the charity stripe. The Eagles also finished with the upper hand in rebounding, 39-36, as both teams racked up 13 offensive boards. UNCG posted 10 assists on its 20 buckets, with freshman guard Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) dishing out five helpers, while GSU was credited with nine.
Stevenson has broken out in a big way the last five games. She is averaging 14.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per outing and has posted three double-doubles - all on the road. Of her 57 rebounds, 32 of them have come on the offensive glass. Stevenson has hold of second place among league players with 3.9 offensive rebounds per game and has risen to sixth in overall rebounding.
• Monday's contest marks the 34th between UNCG and Wofford with the Spartans holding a stout 28-5 advantage in the series. However, the Terriers swept the season series last year by scores of 62-47 and 65-57.
• In the last game between the programs, UNCG senior Jazz Weaver matched her career high with 13 points to celebrate Senior Night, but Wofford turned in a 17-6 run to end the game and take the 65-57 win over the Spartans at Fleming Gymnasium. Weaver and Natalie Headley finished with 13 points each to pace UNCG, while April Carson had a career-high 10. Morgan Wrightson had a game-high 17 points for the Terriers, with Daniella Motley (14) and Logan Morris (12) joining her in double figures.
• Wofford suffered a 70-61 loss at Furman in its last outing as the Paladins used a 17-4 run in the second half to record the win. Wofford outshot Furman from the floor, 44 percent compared to 43 percent. The Paladins made three of its five threes for 60 percent, while the Terriers were held without a basket from three for the first time this season. Furman also went 71 percent, 27-of-38 from the free throw line compared to 48 percent, 13-of-27, from the line. The game featured 49 total turnovers, 23 for Wofford and 26 for Furman, and 59 personal fouls, 30 for Wofford and 29 for Furman.
• For the season, Wrightson leads Wofford in scoring with 12.4 points per game. Motley, who has turned in Wofford's only seven double-doubles of the season against Kennesaw State, Samford, Alabama, Seton Hall, Davidson, App State and Georiga Southern, averages a double-double with 11.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She is the only player in the SoCon that averages a double-double.
NEXT UP...
UNCG begins the second half of Southern Conference play at home, welcoming Western Carolina to Fleming Gymnasium Saturday, Feb. 2 for a 2 p.m. tip. The Spartans look to avenge a 47-44 loss suffered in Cullowhee earlier this season (Dec. 1).
- UNCG -
