SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNC Greensboro (UNCG) head women's basketball coach
Trina Patterson adjusted the starting lineup prior to its game against USC-Upstate.
Patterson and the Spartans reaped immediate benefits as they enjoyed a fast start. Unfortunately, UNCG couldn't sustain the effort of its strong first quarter and dropped a 57-46 road decision to USC-Upstate at G.B. Hodges Arena Saturday afternoon.
Freshman
Isys Grady and sophomore
Khalis Cain combined to score 22 points to lead UNCG.
Freshman
Nasia Powell and junior
Amber Redmond made their first starts of the 2021-22 season. For Powell, it was her first start of the season. Her insertion into the starting lineup meant UNCG had three freshmen (Powell,
Nia Howard, and
Isys Grady) on the floor to begin the game.
The future is bright.
The present is tough now, but these experiences will make UNCG formidable once Southern Conference competition commences next month.
UNCG head coach Trina Patterson on the game.
"That was one of our better first quarters of the season. We just need to regroup right now. The most important part is to have it together by January when we get into conference play. We just have to take our hits right now and keep getting better and let them be lessons that we learned. We're learning more about our team."
How It Happened
- Grady scored a team-high 12 points and collected a career-best three steals.
- Cain added 10 points and five rebounds.
- Redmond provided tremendous energy in snatching loose balls and playing tough defense, which fueled UNCG's great start.
- Behind Grady, who scored four points, UNCG sprinted to an 8-2 advantage on its way to an 11-4 lead after the first quarter.
- UNCG limited USC-Upstate to 1 for 10 shooting in the first quarter.
- Upstate reached double digits in points with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter.
- Pernilla Sorensen banked a 3-pointer off glass as the first-half buzzer ended to knot the game at 22 at intermission.
- Nasia Powell gave UNCG its final lead of the contest, 26-24, on a deep jumper with 6:51 remaining in the third quarter.
- USC-Upstate ended the third quarter on a 20-4 run.
- After trailing by 15 points early in the fourth quarter, UNCG showed lots of fight in scoring nine consecutive points to close to within, 45-39, with 5:23 remaining.
- Cain scored four points and Nitzan Amar sank a 3-pointer during the run.
By The Numbers
- This is Grady's seventh consecutive contest in double figures.
- Cain reached double figures for the ninth time in her career and fifth time this season.
- Powell, Redmond, and Grady all had four rebounds each.
- For Powell, who played 21 minutes, the four rebounds were a career best in her fledgling career.
- UNCG outscored USC Upstate, 16-13, in the final quarter.
- Jordan Releford had her first career blocked shot in the fourth quarter.
- Rachel Rose and Chellia Watson scored 15 points each to lead USC-Upstate.
- Hannah Roberts added 13 points and Jada Logan had 11 rebounds for the hosts.
- USC-Upstate made six of its eight 3-pointers in the second half.
Up Next
- UNCG hosts the College of Charleston on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
