ASHEVILLE, N.C.  – No. 3 UNCG women's basketball sees its quest for a unified SoCon title end in the conference tournament finals, falling to the No. 1 Samford Bulldogs by a final of 59-54. 

Playing the Bulldogs for the third time on the season, the Spartans grabbed the early lead against Samford, holding their opponents to just four field goals in the opening 10 minutes. The Spartans would take a 14-9 lead into the second period with Alexus Willey hitting a pair of threes before the break. 

The Spartan offense would get cold during the second quarter however, pouring in just four points as the Bulldogs took a 25-18 lead into halftime. Continuing her impressive start to the postseason, Aja Boyd tallied a team-high seven points in the first half, while pulling down five boards.

UNCG continued to fight back, opening the third quarter on an 11-4 run, to tie the score at 29 apiece. The Spartans hit four three-pointers in the period to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, including a pair from junior guard Tori Powell. 

The Bulldogs reobtained the lead a minute into the fourth, with the lead changing hands two more times before the final buzzer The Spartans took back the lead with three minute remaining, but Samford closed out the fourth on a 7-0 run to clinch the 2020 SoCon Tournament title by a score of 59-54. 

Things To Know
-- Aja Boyd grabbed a double-double on 11 points and 10 rebounds, totaling 59 and 25 over the Spartans' three postseason contests

-- Alexus Willey scored a team-high 14 points against the Bulldogs, going 4-for-9 from beyond the arc

-- Aja Boyd and Nadine Soliman both secured First Team All-Tournament honors, while Te'ja Twitty received Second Team designations

-- UNCG –