GREENSBORO, N.C. –
Nia Howard led the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team to a 50-46 victory over the ETSU Bucs on Saturday night.
With the win, the Spartans take the 2021-22 series against the Bucs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans were slow to start, only scoring four points in the first seven minutes.
- Nitzan Amar and Aja Boyd scored the Spartans four points.
- UNCG found its rhythm late in the first and into the second quarter, going on an 8-2 run to close the deficit to six.
- Jordan Releford's three-pointer put a spark in the Spartans, kick-starting another scoring run.
- The 13-7 run took the Spartans into halftime with a one-point lead. Nia Howard led with five points during the run and CeCe Crudup followed with four.
- The rest of the game was back and forth with the largest lead being five.
- Pernilla Sorensen scored the Spartan's second-half opener from beyond the arc.
- Both teams were scoreless for two minutes following an ETSU layup to tie the game at 32.
- ETSU outscored the Spartans 7-6 to close out the third quarter.
- The Bucs had a five-point lead with 6:24 left in the game.
- Amar, Howard, and Grady scored back-to-back-to-back layups to give UNCG a one-point lead with under four minutes.
- Grady's step-back jumper put UNCG up by four.
- ETSU had the ball at the end but the Spartan's defense closed them down to end the game.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Howard led with nine points.
- Amar and Grady followed with eight points.
- Grady led with 12 rebounds.
- Cain had two blocks and Grady had one.
- Crudup led with two assists, followed by Amar, Grady, and Boyd.
- This is Grady's fourth time with double-digit rebounds.
- Sorensen has made at least one three-pointer in 10 of the last 12 games.
QUOTE FROM TRINA PATTERSON
"This was a grinding game for us. We grew because we were solid down the stretch. This may be the first time that we've been in the situation of back and forth, back and forth. We maintained our composure, even though some things weren't going right, we were still playing hard. I'm really excited about the youth. I think Nia [Howard] had one of her best games. Nitzan was very aggressive on offense. I really like her confidence. I think our confidence is growing. ETSU is a shooting team and we held them. I'm really proud of the team."
UPCOMING
UNCG will head to Spartanburg, S.C. for their last regular-season road trip against the Wofford Terriers on Monday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
2022 SoCon Tournament
- For information regarding the 2022 Ingles Southern Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, N.C., which will run from March 3-7, please visit: www.soconhoops.com. If you would like to purchase tickets, please contact the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250.
