CLINTON, S.C. – Nia Howard tied her career-high scoring total and Isys Grady finished with a double-double during the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team's 60-53 setback to Presbyterian at Templeton Gym Wednesday night.
 
Howard made five 3-pointers and scored a team-best 15 points. That output matched what she accomplished against Winthrop on Nov. 18. Meanwhile, Grady continued to dazzle this season as she notched her second double-double in the Spartans' last three games with 12 points and a career best 12 rebounds.
 
Pernilla Sorensen and Aja Boyd added six points each for UNCG, which made a season-best nine 3-pointers. The Spartans also tied a season-high with 10 steals as a team. It was the third time this season UNCG had double-digit steals.
 
Quotable
UNCG head coach Trina Patterson on the game.
"We're building off the third and fourth quarter. We just had a rough start. We have to get better at being on the road and coming out in a position where we are in a positive light. I thought we came out and turned the ball over right away and missed a lot of bunnies. But we'll get better in that. I am very pleased with Isys and Nia. I am disappointed in our defense today. That's one thing we can hang our hats on and we didn't do the job on the defensive end. They shot 44 percent and that's the best someone shot against us all season."
 
How It Happened

• Nia Howard's 3-pointer gave the Spartans a 3-2 lead with 8 minutes, 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
• It was UNCG's only advantage of the game.
• Jaylynn Brown tied the game at 6-6 when she beat the shot clock with a deep 3-pointer.
• Presbyterian broke free from an 8-8 deadlock by scoring the last four points of the first quarter to lead after 10 minutes.
• The Blue Hose opened the second quarter on an 11-2 run to swell its lead to 23-10 with 8:01 remaining.
• UNCG was 8 for 32 shooting in the opening 20 minutes (25 percent).
• Four of UNCG's eight baskets were 3-pointers.
• The Spartans didn't attempt a foul shot in the first half.
• UNCG did have six assists on its eight first half baskets.
• After trailing by 19 points early in the third quarter, Amber Redmond hustled for an offensive rebound and then scored a sweet reverse layup to bring UNCG to within, 42-34, with less than 30 seconds remaining.
• Redmond's basket finished a run of 11 straight points for the Spartans.
• Boyd took two charges in the fourth quarter.
• Khalis Cain grabbed seven rebounds.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Boyd moved past Angie Polk and into eighth-place all-time in blocked shots with 3:50 remaining in the second quarter.
• Boyd has 70 career blocked shots.
• With 73 blocks, Sandi Reid is currently seventh all-time in UNCG history.
• This was the fourth consecutive contest in which Grady has finished with at least eight rebounds.
• She has five games this season with eight or more rebounds.
• This was the second time this season that Howard made at least five 3-pointers in a single game.
• Howard has a team best 12 3-pointers.
• Boyd attempted UNCG's first foul shot with 5:21 remaining in the third quarter.
• UNCG won the battle of the benches, 20-11.
• Jade Compton led three Blue Hose players in double figures with 15 points.
• Maleia Bracone and Nyah Willis added 12 points each for Presbyterian.

 
Up Next

• UNCG continues its Palmetto State road trip when it visits USC-Upstate on Saturday at 2 p.m.