ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The ending of the 2020-21 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball season can't diminish the bright future ahead for veteran head coach
Trina Patterson's program.
The Spartans grew, gained confidence, and finished the regular season with wins in four of their final five games. They were among the national leaders in scoring defense and 3-point shooting percentage for most of the year.
Of course, that will be of little solace in the immediacy of fifth-seeded UNCG's 78-66 setback to fourth-seeded Wofford in the Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships presented by General Shale Brick at the Harrah's Cherokee Center Thursday.
Once the hurt subsides and disappointment eases, they can look back with pride on their season.
"I am really proud of what we did this year," UNCG head women's basketball coach
Trina Patterson said. "Our future looks great because we have a lot of youth. We have a lot of confidence built knowing where we need to go."
The Spartans (8-16 overall) were led by seniors
CeCe Crudup and
Pernilla Sorensen.
Crudup led UNCG with a game-high 18 points. It was the 16th time this season and the 27th of her career that she reached double figures in scoring. Sorensen tied her career-high with five 3-pointers en route to 15 points. In finishing her career with 54 3-pointers, Sorensen gave UNCG an early 3-0 lead after making her first shot attempt.
Junior
Jaylynn Brown added 12 points for the Spartans, which got six rebounds each from Sorensen, freshman
Khalis Cain and sophomore
Amber Redmond. Senior
Lilian Izundu blocked a pair of shots.
Wofford (12-10) advanced to Friday's quarterfinals against eighth-seeded East Tennessee State because it shot 46.8 percent, made 11 3-pointers, and led 19-6 after the first quarter. Helen Matthews led four Terriers in double figures with 16 points. Lilly Hatton had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
"Offensively, our team was maybe the best we've been all season," Patterson said. "Defensively, we weren't who we are giving up 11 open 3s. Our team never quit. We've been accustomed to adversity and there wasn't one game this season where I saw quit in my team. We had many setbacks and we could've rolled over. Our team stayed strong through the tough times. There were some days where it was tough on the players especially mentally. I am really proud of our team."
UNCG entered the season having lost several impact players from last year's 23-win squad. The Spartans then endured a rash of injuries that forced Patterson to juggle her lineup and advance the rotation faster than she anticipated when the season started.
Without the services of senior
Aja Boyd, who earned preseason All-SoCon recognition and freshman Jay'lin Hastings for the entire season and redshirt freshman
Jordan Releford and seniors
Tori Powell for part of the year, the Spartans competed and battled hard consistently.
"We had a lot of injuries early in the season and we knew our circumstances early," Crudup said. "I knew I had to be the leader and the captain for us. I fully embraced that role. I called (the underclassmen) my 'youngins.' I just told them this was an opportunity for them to step up and take full advantage of everything."
Cain embraced the increased playing time. Battling against experienced post players consistently this season, Cain held her own, earning a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman Team. She had a pair of double-doubles this season, led the conference in rebounding at 10.4 and was second in blocked shots with 2.1 per game.
Brown ended the season strong by scoring double figures in her last three games. Sophomores
Jayla Johnson and
Excellanxt Greer along with junior
Chatori Tyler gained valuable experience throughout the season. They each enjoyed a shining moment that contributed to victories this season.
Even though Crudup, Sorensen, Izundu, and
Rhianna Council played their final games as Spartans, they can be encouraged knowing that the program they love will be in great hands. Crudup and Sorensen battled throughout the contest, never allowing UNCG to lose hope.
"I've been here since I was a baby," Crudup said. "I came here when I was 18 and now I am 22. I've grown so much as a person, basketball player, and a teammate. It's been a wild ride. I love this university and I enjoyed my time here. I wouldn't change nothing.
"I am so excited about the future of the program. They have so much potential and I know they will keep getting better. They will have a few people coming back who were injured and they're going to be a beast. They're in good hands and they will be just fine."
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