GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team sent their super senior class of
Aja Boyd,
CeCe Crudup, and
Pernilla Sorensen off with a 67-39 win over the Western Carolina Catamounts on Saturday.
With the win, the Spartans clinch the No. 5 spot in the 2022 Southern Conference Tournament. UNCG will play No. 4 Samford in the first round on Thursday, March 3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sorensen opened the scoring in the game with back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to give the Spartans a 9-0 lead.
- Boyd hit two straight jumpers to increase the lead to 13.
- UNCG's defense held the Catamounts scoreless until the 3:47 mark when Western Carolina made two at the charity stripe.
- The Spartan's lead grew to 21 over halfway through the second quarter, 31-10.
- The Catamounts scored six to close the deficit.
- Nitzan Amar's free-throw sent the Spartans into the half with a 16-point lead.
- Isys Grady wasted no time increasing the lead to open the second half.
- Boyd's trip to the free-throw line got the Spartans to 50 points.
- Anna Terron made her comeback and quickly scored a jumper and then was sent to the free-throw line to shoot another.
- Terron's three-pointer with three seconds left ended the game for UNCG.
- The Spartans would win 67-39.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Sorensen led the team with 12 points followed by Boyd with 11.
- Jay'lin Hastings recorded her first two career blocks.
- Khalis Cain led with three blocks.
- 15 Spartans saw action on the floor, the most all season. Of the 15, 13 scored.
- Cain led with seven rebounds.
- Amar, Jordan Releford, and Excellanxt Greer each dished out two assists.
- Five Spartans recorded a steal in the win: Nasia Powell, Cain, Boyd, Sorensen, and Nia Howard.
FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THE SENIOR CLASS
How does it feel to win your last game in Fleming?
Aja: "It feels great! Fleming has been home for me the past 5 years and closing it out with a win in our home gym makes it easier to say goodbye."
Pernilla: "It feels great! We have talked all week about not only preparing for this game but preparing for the tournament next week. I think we did that and it feels good to get some momentum now for next week. We still have work to do but I think we are peaking at the right time."
CeCe: "Winning my last game in Fleming is all I could ask for. That's what I told my teammates. I also had so much of my support system coming out and I just wanted them to see me end on a high and for all good vibes around me. It feels great."
Does your mindset change going into conference? How? What do you turn your focus on?
Aja: "My mindset doesn't change just elevated to another level. It's win or go home and I want to be as focused as I can be for myself and my team."
Pernilla: "I think you subconsciously have another mindset when you're going into the conference tournament. You know that it's a win-or-go-home game so every possession and every play is important. The preparation itself is not different from any other game but in a tournament like this, you just have to be locked in and ready from the start. We have to learn from our mistakes in this game and make our adjustments these next couple of days and keep preparing for the tournament."
CeCe: "My mindset going into conference is all focus. We got some good momentum going into conference that I feel really good about. As a team, we understand our strong suits and what we need to work on so that is where my mind is."
UPCOMING
UNCG will turn to tournament mode as they prepare to face the No. 4 seed Samford Bulldogs. Both teams will go head-to-head on Thursday, March 3. Tip-off is set for 1:15 p.m.
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.
