GREENSBORO, N.C. - The UNC Greensboro's (UNCG) women's basketball's
Akira Wiggins led the Spartans with 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists as the Spartans erased a nine-point fourth quarter deficit, but fell in overtime, 67-54, in a Wednesday night contest in Fleming Gym.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Presbyterian opened the first 2:28 of the first quarter with a 10-3 advantage as the Blue Hose made their first four shots of the game. UNCG closed the gap with a 6-3 run, capped by a
Faith Price three-point field goal with 1:59 left in the period. Price's second consecutive three-pointer evened the game, 12-12, 1:08 later. Presbyterian scored a layup in the final seconds to claim a 14-12 lead through one frame.
That basket sparked an 8-0 Presbyterian run that extended into the second quarter and held for the next 3:08 of the period. The Spartans and Blue Hose began trading field goals as Wiggins posted the Spartans next four points to cap the Presbyterian lead at six, 23-17, at the 5:11 mark of the period. Presbyterian brought the lead back to 10 points with 3:40, but the lead did not grow further. The Spartans used a 7-3 stretch leading to the 1:16 mark of the period to bring the deficit down to six points, 30-24. The Blue Hose scored five of the final seven points of the period to claim a 34-26 lead at halftime.
The Spartans opened the first 5:30 minutes of the third quarter on an 8-3 run, but only held the Blue Hose to one field goal during that stretch. That cut the Blue Hose lead to three, 37-34. Presbyterian responded with five-straight points in back-to-back possessions to reclaim an eight-point lead. A field goal from Simpson and a pair of made free throws from
Antoniette Emma-Nnopu cut the lead in half with 2:16 remaining in the period, but Presbyterian closed the quarter with a seven-point lead, 45-38.
The Blue Hose opened the period with a nine-point advantage and held an eight-point lead with 6:21 remaining in regulation.
Nasia Powell followed with a layup to spark a 9-2 run that lasted the rest of the period as the Spartans held Presbyterian scoreless for the final 3:46 of the period to force overtime.
Presbyterian held the Spartans to one field goal in a 15-2 overtime period to claim the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Price led Spartan scorers with 12 points off the bench on 4-of-12 shooting from three-point range.
- Powell finished with eight points and six rebounds.
- Emma-Nnopu came off the bench to post seven points and 10 rebounds including five offensive rebounds.
- Khalis Cain led the Spartans with 12 rebounds, six on the offensive glass.
- The Spartans shot 25.6 percent from the field compared to Presbyterian's 41.4 percent.
- UNCG won the turnover battle as the Spartans forced 25 Presbyterian turnovers while committing 17.
- Presbyterian held the rebounding advantage, 50-44, but the Spartans doubled the Blue Hose on the offensive glass, 20-10.
RECORDS
Presbyterian: 3-4
UNCG: 4-3
UP NEXT
Kentucky awaits the Spartans for a road contest Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Southeastern Conference's Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky.