GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women's basketball team defeated NCAA Division III opponent Greensboro College, 94-38, in a preseason exhibition game Thursday night inside Fleming Gymnasium. The Spartans were led by senior Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) who had a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds. Three other members of UNCG's squad scored in double figures en route to the largest margin victory over the Pride since a 102-40 win during the 1982-83 season.
UNCG jumped out to an early lead in the opening period but a layup by Courtney Pearsal would bring the game within four with 3:27 to go. Jade Scaife (Fort Washington, Md./Archbishop Spalding) responded with a layup to extend the lead to 16-10. A last second three-pointer by Mason gave UNCG a 15-point lead after the opening frame, its largest lead thus far.
Bailey Williams (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) converted on an and-one play to give UNCG a 20-point lead at the 7:05 mark. She scored all 11 points for the Spartans over the next two minutes to see UNCG ahead 45-20 with 5:33 remaining in the first half. The Pride worked to chip away at UNCG's lead but the Spartans outscored them 27-15 in the second period to lead 56-29 at halftime.
UNCG shot an impressive 56.1 percent from the field in the opening half and connected on five-of-nine shots from behind the arc. The Spartans capitalized on 15 Greensboro turnovers despite the Prides impressive 11-of-22 shots from the field.
The Spartans upped the ante in the second half, coming out with a 20-4 run during the third period. A jumper by senior Jazmine Missouri (Largo, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) with 16 seconds remaining in the third frame put UNCG ahead by its largest margin of 43 points.
UNCG continued to impress in the final period, outscoring the Pride 18-5. A jumper by Keli Foster (Hampton, Va./Bethel) extended the Spartans lead to 50, 86-36, with 3:58 to play. Ashley Bearden (Concord, N.C./Jay M. Robinson) scored UNCG's final two points of the game on a pair of free throws for a 56-point victory.
Foster led all scorers in the second half with eight points as UNCG shot 32.5 percent from the field. India Timpton (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) and Mariah Wilson (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta) each had six boards in the final 20 minutes.
Williams was second in scoring for the Spartans with 19 points while Scaife and Shanese Harris (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) each added 10 a piece. Wilson had a game-high 14 rebounds while Foster tallied a career-best five steals.
UNCG held just one member of the Pride to scoring in double figures. Alexis Hite led Greensboro with 10 points.
The Spartans outrebounded Greensboro 51-30 and forced 35 turnovers.
UNCG's season officially begins Friday, November 13, when the Spartans host NCAA Division II Pfieffer at 7 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
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