GREENVILLE, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team had three players score double digit points in a 74-69 victory over Furman Saturday morning in Southern Conference (SoCon) play, for its second-straight win.
Nia Howard and
Akira Wiggins each had 21 points. Howard's total is a career high, while Wiggins &
Nitzan Amar totaled a team high four assists each.
Isys Grady was the third Spartan with double figures, tallying 15 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams traded baskets for the first 3:57 of the first frame, until Furman went on a five-point run for a four-point advantage, taking its largest lead in the first quarter, 10-6. The Spartans took back the advantage scoring eight-straight points, 14-10. They saw a seven-point lead three times in the frame, once with a free-throw from Wiggins at 1:18, and two layups from Howard at 0:44 and 0:34.
Howard made a layup 51 seconds into the second quarter to bring the advantage to seven, 25-18. Midway through the frame, Furman had a six-point run to tie the game at 32 with 3:53 left in the frame. UNCG came back with a 10-2 run, to conclude its scoring, but Furman's Paraskevi Koilia splashed a three pointer with one second remaining to head to the locker room with a five-point deficit, 37-42.
Sydney James and Grace van Rij each had a layup in the paint to start an offensive attack for the Paladins bringing the deficit to one, 41-42 46 seconds into the third quarter. The score was tied three time in the frame with the Spartans taking back the lead after Howard drove to the basket for a layup with 1:03 left in the frame, 51-53 and Grady turned around with another layup for a four-point lead, 55-51.
Both teams went scoreless for the first minute of the final frame, until UNCG and Furman traded a set of free throws, 57-53. UNCG had its largest advantage of 11 points twice in the fourth quarter, once following a layup from Wiggins at 2:09 and then behind a jump shot from
Faith Price at 1:45. Grady had a free-throw to end the quarter with two seconds left on the clock, bringing the final score to 74-69.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UNCG outscored Furman in two quarters.
- UNCG had 25 bench points to Furman's seven.
- The Spartans had 40 points in the paint compared to the Paladins' 26.
- Cain had seven rebounds to lead the team.
- Wiggins made 9-of-10 free-throws.
- UNCG has won the last nine out of 14 games against the Paladins.
- The Spartans lead the series, 30-27.
RECORDS
UNCG: 12-13, 5-6 SoCon
Furman: 10-15, 2-8 SoCon
UP NEXT
UNCG is back home in Fleming Gym on Saturday, February 18
th against Western Carolina with a tip off at 4 p.m. The Spartans continue the home stand with a game against ETSU on February 23 and Chattanooga on February 25 to finish out regular season play. February 25 will be the Spartans' senior night.
