GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team secured its home opening win over Gardner-Webb on Friday night, 54-52, at Bodford Arena in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Jaila Lee led the game with a season-high 17 points, matching her career-best. Rylan Moffitt registered her fourth career double-double and first of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jeni Levine chipped in 10 points to round out the Spartans in double-figures.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams exchanged two baskets apiece to get the contest started knotted at 4-4 at 7:33. Gardner-Webb's Sara Menendez went 2-for-2 at the free throw line before Lee knocked down a corner three-pointer at 6:40 to give UNCG a one-point lead, 7-6. The Runnin' Bulldogs recorded a layup at 5:20 to regain the lead, 8-7. However, the Spartans quickly responded with three consecutive triples to take an eight-point advantage, 16-8. UNCG held the lead for the remainder of the quarter. Gardner-Webb tallied the final three buckets of the first frame, but UNCG held the 16-12 lead heading to the break.
 
Levine got the scoring started in the second frame with a triple at 8:30 for a seven-point lead, 19-12. The teams traded baskets before Gardner-Webb notched a 10-2 run to take a one-point lead, 24-23. The Spartans recorded four consecutive points to regain the lead, 27-24. Both teams went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe before Gardner-Webb notched a three-point field goal at 1:07 to send both teams to the locker room tied at 29-29.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs had the early momentum to start the third stanza with a 7-2 run for their biggest lead of the game, 36-31 at 7:14. Gardner-Webb maintained the advantage until UNCG posted an 8-2 run concluded by a triple from Makiah Asidanya to give the Spartans a 47-43 advantage to conclude the quarter.
 
Asidayna got the first basket of the final quarter with a three-pointer at 8:52 for a seven-point led, 50-43. A little later, Gardner-Webb strung together five unanswered points to cut its deficit to three, 51-48. Each team answered on both ends before the Runnin' Bulldogs recorded a layup to make it a one-point game with 53 seconds remaining. However, good Spartans defense kept Gardner-Webb from taking the lead. Asidanya went 1-for-2 at the charity stripe to grant UNCG with the 54-52 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Lee and Tasia Johnson recorded for assists apiece.
• Moffitt added a season-best three blocks.
• Asidanya and Lee led UNCG with two three-pointers each.
• Asidanya led the game with three steals and added nine points.
• UNCG bested Gardner-Webb in points in the paint (24-14), points off turnovers (17-7), second chance points (9-5) and fast break points (8-5).

RECORDS
UNCG: 2-3, 0-0 SoCon
GW: 2-5, 0-0 Big South



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UNCG WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION 
To secure your tickets for UNCG women's basketball home games click HERE for options including single games, group discounts and full season ticket options. All (14) home games will be played on campus in Bodford Arena. UNCG faculty/staff and students are free with their ID. To learn more about upcoming ticket promotions or to purchase over the phone call the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250 or email admoore10@uncg.edu.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will take a short trip down I-40 East to Chapel Hill on Sunday to take on No. 14 North Carolina at Carmichael Arena for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.