GREENSBORO, N.C. - Freshman Khalis Cain delivered the first double-double of her UNCG (2-10, 0-3) career on Saturday afternoon, scoring 13 with 14 rebounds in a 73-58 loss to visiting Mercer (8-4, 2-1). The first-year Spartan tied a game-high with her baker's dozen in points, while her rebound total set a new personal best. 

Both sides tested the waters early, but it would be Mercer to get the first big run of the game, scoring 16 to the Spartans' four in the final six minutes of the opening quarter. The visitors would lead by as many as 22 during the first half, but the scoring efforts of Rhianna Council and Jayla Johnson helped keep UNCG within striking range. 

Johnson and Council set career-highs in scoring in the first 20 minutes alone, pouring in eight and seven points respectively, with the former hitting all six of her free throw opportunities. Cain pulled down seven of her 14 rebounds before the halftime whistle, gaining two boards off the offensive glass and her 13th block of the season in the process. 

Taking a 17-point advantage into the third quarter, the Bears continued to answer the Spartans nearly shot-for-shot through the second half, scoring 32 to the Spartans' 34. Cain added another four offensive boards in the final 20 minutes, a key contribution to the freshman's 11 points to close out the night. The UNCG starting center delivered eight second-chance points in the second half alone, with one of those buckets contributing to a three-point play finished at the foul line. 

Johnson tied Cain for a game-high of 13 after contributing another five before the end of the half, as the Spartans scored 20 of their 34 in the paint and another four from the line. Despite hitting 14-of-28 attempts to close out the contest, the hosts were unable to overcome the large lead established by Mercer in the opening half, with the final score standing 73-58 in favor of the Bears. 

>> Cain has 29 offensive rebounds on the season, 28 of those have come in her last eight starts, giving her an average of 3.5 per game during that span
>> Rhianna Council finished with 10 points on the afternoon, the most she's scored in a UNCG uniform. The senior went 4-for-5 from the floor and added a block and two rebounds
>> Turnovers proved to be one of the deciding figures in Saturday's matchup. The Spartans forced nine Mercer turnovers, while the Bears scored 25 of their 73 points off of UNCG's 20 turnovers

COMING UP NEXT
UNCG hits the road for the first time in the conference season, facing off with ETSU on January 22nd and 24th for the Spartans' first road contest since losing to Tennessee on December 20th. 

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