GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women's basketball team officially kickstarts its 2013-14 campaign Friday, traveling to Tallahassee, Fla. for a non-conference contest against Florida State. Tipoff inside the Donald L. Tucker Center is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3.
The teams met last season at the Greensboro Coliseum as the then No. 23 Seminoles posted a 93-63 victory Dec. 22. UNCG tied a program single-game record with 12 three-point field goals in the tilt while also out-scoring Florida State 41-38 after halftime. Then freshman guard Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) dropped in 21 points while also tallying five three-point field goals, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The Spartans hosted Francis Marion in an exhibition game last Saturday, Nov. 2, and came away victorious by a 77-56 score. The UNCG defense swarmed the Patriots, forcing 34 turnovers and recording 17 steals. The Spartans also rallied from a five-point halftime deficit by shooting 60 percent (15-for-25) from the field in the second half to finish at 43 percent for the game. In terms of free throw shooting, UNCG went to the line 29 times and knocked down 21 of the attempts for a 72-percent performance. Francis Marion had the best of the rebounding 41-33, including a 12-9 edge on the offensive glass.
The Blue and Gold turned those 34 turnovers into 40 points while also out-scoring FMU 28-12 in the paint. The Patriots scored more bench points (26-22) and racked up nine second-chance points as compared to seven for UNCG.
Senior guard Breonna Patterson (Greensboro, N.C./Dudley) paced the Spartan offense with 13 points while also handing out a team-high three assists. Freshman guard Bailey Williams (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) was able to fill up the stat sheet to the tune of 10 points, a squad-best six rebounds, four steals and two assists. Also putting up a solid performance was junior guard Jarae Savage (Marietta, Ga./North Cobb) who notched 11 points, six steals and four rebounds. She was also 7-for-9 from the charity stripe.
Another three Spartans tallied double digits offensively as Mason, freshman forward Jade Scaife (Ft. Washington, Md./Archbishop Spalding) and senior forward Janae' Stevenson (Columbia, S.C./Eau Claire) recorded 11, 11 and 10 points respectively. Scaife also knocked down five of her six free throw attempts while also pulling down a team-high three offensive rebounds.
The Spartans enter the new season with a great mix of old and new. UNCG lost just one starter from last year's team and welcomes six newcomers into the fold. In 2012-13, UNCG continued to build and progress as it handed Samford a rare home loss while winning a game in the conference tournament for the first time since 2010. Mason headlines the returning corps of players, having been named the 2013 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year as well as to this year's preseason all-conference team. Mason averaged a team-best 12.5 points per game while also leading the squad in field goals made, three-point field goals made and assists.
UNCG also returns leading rebounder and senior forward Stevenson who pulled down 7.7 boards per game and finished third for the Spartans in scoring at 10.6 points per game. She set a program Southern Conference tournament record with 15 rebounds in the first round victory over Furman and ended the season with six double-doubles to bring her career total to 11 – the fifth-most in school history. Stevenson led the league in offensive rebounding at 3.8 per game and finished sixth in rebounds per game, ninth in blocked shots and 10th in field goal percentage. Patterson represents the third UNCG returner who averaged in double figures offensively as she netted 10.9 points per game last season.
A six-member freshman class joins the program this season and is well-balanced across the positions with three guards, two forwards and a center. Helping highlight the class is Scaife who played in the National High School Invitational this past April after averaging 13.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and tallying 18 double-doubles. She also led the Cavaliers to a 29-2 record and was named the Baltimore Sun Player of the Year. Williams was tabbed the Virginia Division 3 state Player of the Year last season after leading Spotswood to a 29-1 record and the Virginia Division 3 state title. She graduated with the most points, assists and steals in program history and posted 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals in the state championship game.
The Seminoles, who won 23 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, head into the upcoming campaign with some new faces after hauling in a talented freshman class following the graduation of five seniors from 2012-13. Freshman guard Brittany Brown and center Kai James are two prominent members of the class who are expected to contribute greatly this year. James, a 6-foot-5 McDonald's All-American, gives Florida State three McDonald's All-Americans on the current roster with the inclusion of senior forward Natasha Howard and redshirt sophomore guard Morgan Jones.
The Seminoles were picked to finish tied for fifth in the expanded ACC by the Blue Ribbon Panel and were chosen by the league's coaches to finish sixth. FSU is receiving 18 votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll and adds two votes in the AP Top 25 Poll.
After challenging Florida State, UNCG will head to Gardner-Webb Monday, Nov. 11, for a non-conference affair with the Runnin' Bulldogs. Tipoff at Paul Porter Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
