GREENSBORO, N.C. – Heading into the final stretch of the season with just three games left on the docket, UNCG hosts Southern Conference leaders Chattanooga Thursday night at Fleming Gymnasium. The game is scheduled to tip at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcasted on the SoCon Digital Network.
The contest is UNCG's Play4Kay Game, with players wearing special pink gear in support of the fight against women's cancers. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a Play4Kay t-shirt and all fans are encouraged to wear pink. A team-specific donation page to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has been set up by the women's basketball team at this link.
UNCG split its two-game road stand last week, earning a victory over Samford in Birmingham, Alabama before falling at Mercer in Macon, Georgia. Nadine Soliman (Cairo, Egypt/Mokattam Language School) led the way in the win over the Bulldogs with 15 points and seven rebounds. In the loss to the Bears, Bailey Williams (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) broke out with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Mocs come to Greensboro with nine SoCon wins and just a single loss in league play under their belt. Chattanooga is coming off of a 70-62 victory over ETSU, who the Blue and Gold will meet at Fleming Gymnasium on Saturday. Reigning SoCon Player of the Week Jasmine Joyner was a handful in the contest, posting 18 points and 16 boards.
Thursday's matchup will be a test of the age-old question: what wins out, offense or defense? The Lady Mocs lead the SoCon in offensive field goal percentage, knocking down 42.6-percent of their attempts. Conversely, UNCG ranks second in the league in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to 37.2-percent from the field.
The two sides are also the top two teams in the conference in rebounding margin and blocked shots. The Spartans take the cake in rebounding, grabbing 4.6 boards more than their opponents, compared to a 1.6 rebound advantage for Chattanooga. UTC leads the way in blocks with 6.3 per game, while UNCG rejects 3.5 shot attempts per contest.
For the Spartans to come out victorious they'll have to slow down Joyner. The senior forward is a double-double waiting to happen, averaging 12.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, the latter leading the conference. Joyner's 48.3-percent field goal percentage is the third highest in the league, while her 4.2 blocks per game easily paces the conference.
The Spartans and Lady Mocs tipoff at 7:00 p.m. at Fleming Gymnasium in the Play4Kay Game. For live coverage options log on to UNCGSpartans.com.
-UNCG-
