GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team opened the 2022-23 season with a 100-74 victory over crosstown rival Guilford College on Monday night in Fleming Gym.
Five Spartans reached double figures including graduate student Akira Wiggins, sophomore
Kennedy Simpson, freshman Antoniette Emma-Nnopu, sophomore
Nasia Powell, and senior Faith Price. Two of the five came off the bench contributing to the Spartans' success.
UNCG reached the century mark in points for the first time since 2019-20, when the Spartans defeated Erskine College 106-44 at home in Fleming Gym on November 26, 2019.
How it Happened:
Simpson, who did not play last year, set the tone early for the Spartans as she hit her first-collegiate basket and three-point shot within the first 30 seconds of the game. Guilford scored six-straight points to take a 6-3 lead and the game quickly became tied at eight each, for the only tied score of the game. The Spartans fought back and went on a 12-0 run late in the frame for a 26-11 advantage. The Quakers scored on final basket before time elapsed in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 13, 26-13. Eight of Simpson's 13 points came in the first frame.
After some back and forth play to start the second quarter, the Spartans went on another double-digit run, 11-0, for a 45-19 advantage. The Quakers scored seven-straight points to answer back, 45-28, before a Spartan 8-2 run concluded the half for a 53-30 score advantage.
Guilford outscored UNCG 21-17 in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 19, 70-51. Despite the Quakers fight, the Spartans saw their largest lead of the game of 29 in the third frame twice following a field goal from
Khalis Cain at 8:21, 59-30, and then one from Emma-Nnopu at 5:39.
As the Spartans scored its most points in the fourth quarter, the Spartans had 10 contribute offensively to the final frame. Included in the 30 points was a three-point play from Wiggins with 6:54 remaining in the quarter. With eight seconds remaining,
Anna Terron drove the ball into the key making a layup to give UNCG the 100-74 victory.
By the Numbers:
- The Spartans shot 76 percent (19-for-25) from the free throw line.
- UNCG recorded 31 points off fastbreak points.
- Powell tallied a career-high 12 points.
- Powell also had a career-best seven rebounds.
- Wiggins' 17 points was a team high.
- Simpson and Emma-Nnopu each contributed 13 points, while Price had 10 points.
- Cain and Emma-Nnopu each registered 7 rebounds
Records:
UNCG: 1-0
Guilford: 0-1
Up Next:
The Spartans hit the road to Boiling Springs, North Carolina for its first away contest to face non-conference foe Gardner-Webb on Saturday, November 12 at 2 p.m.
