JOHNSON CITY, TENN.- The Spartans defense was on-point as the women's basketball team shut down the ESTU Bucs in a dominant 56-38 win on Thursday night. The win snaps a five-game losing streak by the Spartans.
"Our team worked really hard and the results of that showed today," said sophomore
Khalis Cain. "I think we communicated very well today and that is what led us to the win today."
Cain finished the game with a game-high three blocks.
The Spartan's defense was impeccable against the Bucs, grabbing 35 defensive rebounds. ETSU only scored 38 points.
"Our defense is really about help side," said Cain. "If you get beat, go help your teammate. Today, I think we really helped each other out. If one got beat, we were in our positions to help and if anyone was setting a screen, we were there stopping and helping them get over it."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Aja Boyd opened the scoring for the Spartans off a turnover by the Bucs.
- The Spartans went on a seven-point run with points from CeCe Crudup, Isys Grady, and Pernilla Sorensen.
- Sorensen capped the run with a 3-pointer from the corner.
- In the first 5:29, the Spartans had three blocks. One from Boyd, Khalis Cain, and Nitzan Amar.
- Amar and Boyd led the team with four rebounds after the first 10 minutes.
- The Spartan's largest lead in the second quarter was eight points at 5:23.
- ETSU picked up their momentum and made it a one-point game at halftime.
- UNCG came out of the gate to open the second half, going on a 6-2 run led by Boyd.
- The two points from ETSU were the only points allowed, the fewest the Spartans have allowed this season in a quarter.
- UNCG grew its lead to 18 in the fourth and held ETSU to 11.
- The Spartans would earn their first conference win with a final score of 56-38.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Boyd, Cain, and Grady finished with double-figure points. Boyd led with 12 while Cain and Grady followed with 10.
- Grady led with two steals.
- Cain led with three blocks. Boyd followed with two and Amar had one.
- CeCe Crudup, Amar, and Grady had three assists.
- Boyd and Cain had nine rebounds.
- Pernilla Sorensen led with two 3-pointers.
- Trina Patterson earned her 80th win as the head coach of the Spartans.
QUOTE FROM COACH TRINA PATTERSON
"We really took care of the ball and only had nine turnovers. We had even scoring throughout the game. I was really proud of our fourth quarter because that's something we've been working on. We had a lot of great plays from
Nasia Powell. That was a really good game for her. This was part one of our business trip. We can't just celebrate. We have to be ready to handle Chattanooga. They are a really good team."
"I want the same type of defense, same type of communication," said Cain. "We had high intensity and I want to take that into Chattanooga. On offense, we need to keep driving inside."
UPCOMING
UNCG will head to Chattanooga to take on the Mocs on Saturday at 2 p.m.
