GREENSBORO, N.C. – After two games on the road to begin the 2013-14 campaign, the UNCG women's basketball team plays eight of its next nine at home - beginning with Friday's non-conference contest against South Carolina State. Tipoff from Fleming Gymnasium is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The Spartans seek their first victory of the season after losing to Florida State and Gardner-Webb. The game serves as the season opener for the Bulldogs. UNCG was 5-11 at home last season while South Carolina State tallied a 9-6 mark away from home.

UNCG has used its bench liberally so far this season as 11 of 13 players have experienced time on the court and six are averaging 20 or minutes played per game. Senior guard Breonna Patterson (Greensboro, N.C./Dudley) leads the squad in scoring at 12 points per game while classmate and forward Janae' Stevenson (Columbia, S.C./Eau Claire) checks in with a 9.0 average. In terms of rebounding, Stevenson paces the team at 6.0 per contest. Patterson has done well from range, knocking down five of her 11 three-point attempts.

Free throw shooting has been a bright spot for the Spartans as they have drained 33 of 48 tries (68.8 percent). Freshman forward Jade Scaife (Ft. Washington, Md./Archbishop Spalding) is 8-for-10, sophomore guard Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) is 7-for-8 and Patterson is 5-for-6 from the stripe. UNCG has struggled to shoot the ball, firing at a meager 28.6 percent clip from the field. The Blue and Gold is shooting 31.3 percent from deep. In Monday's 71-60 loss at Gardner-Webb, Patterson led the Spartans with 16 points while junior guard Jarae Savage (Marietta, Ga./North Cobb) pulled down a team-best eight rebounds. Savage also reached double figures with 12 points and Mason chipped in with 10 points. UNCG shot just 28 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 54-40.

South Carolina State, under the direction of six year head coach Doug Robertson, Jr., is coming off a 20-9 season from a year ago which was the best season under Robertson. The Lady Bulldogs returns five players from last year squad including two starters (Cabriel Duren and Kourtney Williams). Duren averaged 5.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.55 assists per game. Williams, who came on strong during her sophomore campaign averaged 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per outing. South Carolina State played Claflin in exhibition action Nov. 4 and lost an 82-69 decision. Junior Kourtney Williams tossed in a game-high 28 points and grabbed a team-leading 11 rebounds. The Bulldogs struggled from the field, shooting 33.8 percent and were out-rebounded 58-36.

The Spartans own a record of 26-8 against current members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In addition to South Carolina State, UNCG is also scheduled to play Norfolk State this season. The Spartans have never faced Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Howard or Savannah State.

After its matchup with South Carolina State, UNCG travels to Norfolk, Va., Wednesday for a 6 p.m. non-conference contest against Norfolk State.