GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team closed out the 2023-24 regular season with a 61-54 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday in Fleming Gym.
 
With today's win over the Catamounts, UNCG finishes the 2023-24 season with a 15-1 home record. This is the best home record for the Spartans since the 2001-02 season, when the team went 12-1 at home.
 
Khalis Cain, Ayanna Khalfani and Jay'lin Hastings were recognized following Saturday's win over the Catamounts in a special senior day ceremony.
 
In addition, prior to Saturday's game Head Coach Trina Patterson was honored in a pregame ceremony recognizing her achievement on earning her 300^th career win in the team's 69-49 win over Mercer on Feb. 17.
 
Three Spartans recorded double figures in Saturday's win. Jayde Gamble led the way with 20 points, Khalfani followed closely behind with 13 points, while Cain added 11 points for the Spartans.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Western Carolina got on the board first in the contest with a layup from Lonasia Brewer. Cain quickly responded with a second chance layup at 8:48 to turn the first quarter into a back-and-forth battle. Although the Catamounts gained the final two points in the first frame, UNCG still held the one-point advantage (14-13).
 
The Spartans continued to hold the advantage in the second quarter by outscoring the Catamounts, 18-10. A couple free throws followed by a layup from Khalfani gave UNCG the 32-23 lead going into the locker room.
 
The second half was more of the same with UNCG leading, but Western Carolina stayed within range. The third frame was the only one in which the Catamounts were able to outscore the Spartans, 15-11. However, UNCG was still able to hold its lead. A couple free throws from Cain, followed by a layup from Western Carolina's Jada Burton ended the third quarter, with the Spartans on top, 43-38.
 
Western Carolina was able to come back within range on a couple occasions in the fourth quarter. With UNCG leading, 50-46, the Spartans sparked a 7-2 run to take the 57-48 lead over the Catamounts. Western Carolina was able to come back within five later after a couple free throws from Zanoria Cruz (59-54). Gamble closed out the contest adding two more points at the charity line to give UNCG the 61-54 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Gamble's 20 points was her 20^th game with double figures this season and her seventh game with 20 or more points.
• Khalfani led the Spartans by recording a new career high of five steals.
• Khalfani and Kelly Boyle paced the team with three dimes apiece.
• Cain led UNCG with seven boards.
• Gamble went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line and 2-for-4 from behind the arc.

RECORDS
UNCG: 19-10, 8-6, SoCon
Western Carolina: 6-23, 11-13, SoCon
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now turn their attention to the 2024 SoCon Tournament in Asheville, N.C., starting in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, March 7, with time and seeding to be determined following Saturday's final regular season conference contests. With ETSU and Furman playing in the final game at 6 p.m., UNCG will learn its fate for Thursday's quarterfinal round.

TICKETS
To purchase tickets for any home games for the  2023-24 UNCG women's basketball season, click here to learn more or call the UNCG Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 334-3250.

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