BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Three Spartans scored in double figures, as Samford defeated the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team, 76-66 on Saturday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center in Southern Conference (SoCon) play.
Akira Wiggins had a season and game high in both points (23) and rebounds (8).
Isys Grady and
Khalis Cain also eight rebounds. Cain and
Faith Price were the other two Spartans that scored in double digits, contributing 14 and 11 points, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Samford outscored UNCG in the first quarter 19-8, as Wiggins
led the Spartans with four points and one rebound. The game was tied three times with the final at six, before the Bulldogs went on a 13-2 to head into the second quarter with an 11-point advantage.
UNCG opened the second quarter with the first basket, as Grady drove to the hoop with a layup at 9:35, for a nine-point deficit, 10-19. Samford climbed to its largest lead of the game, 15, twice in the second quarter, as the Bulldogs maintained a 10-point or more lead for the remainder of the frame. The Spartans' 4-2 run in the final 36 seconds of the quarter, included all four points from Wiggins, including a buzzer beater.
Wiggins dropped five-straight points to begin the third quarter, cutting the deficit to six, 31-37, holding the Bulldogs scoreless for two minutes and 28 seconds. Samford scored nine-straight points in response, to grow its lead back to 15, 46-31. UNCG's 9-6 run to end the frame ended with another 15-point advantage in favor of Samford, 52-40.
Antoniette Emma-Nnopu made a layup right at the 10:00 mark to start the fourth quarter, as UNCG's 8-3 run cut the deficit back to single digits, 48-55. The score toggled back and forth, as the Spartans came within four with a layup from Cain at 4:56. Cain's and-one three-point play with 27-seconds left, brought the game Spartans' within six, 66-72, but the Bulldogs would make four-straight free throws to claim victory, 76-66.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UNCG outscored Samford in the fourth quarter, 26-24.
- Wiggins also had four assists and one steal, while shooting 11-for-11 in free throws, for a career high.
- Price, Grady, and Nitzan Amar all had one block for the Spartans.
- Grady added eight rebounds.
- UNCG outrebounded Samford 38-33.
- The Spartans had 17 second-chance points to the Bulldogs' four.
- Both teams had 16 points off turnovers.
- Samford had 26 points in the paint compared to UNCG's seven.
RECORDS
Samford: 8-9, 2-0 SoCon
UNCG: 8-8, 1-1 SoCon
UP NEXT
The Spartans are back home in Fleming Gym on Thursday, January 12 to face Furman in a 6 p.m. contest, before hosting Wofford on Saturday, January 14 at 4 p.m.
