CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team concluded its 2025-26 regular season on Saturday afternoon in a dominating 68-54 win over the Western Carolina Catamounts inside the Ramsey Center.
Makiah Asidanya led all scorers with 21 points.
Jeni Levine and
Tasia Johnson added 11 points apiece, while
Jaila Lee chipped in 10 points to round out the Spartans in double-figures.
UNCG recorded 12 three-pointers in the contest, marking the third time in The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule this season the Spartans have notched double-digit triples. The team also had 12 against Samford on Jan. 8 and 11 against Mercer on Jan. 10.
Despite the contest tying on three occasions, UNCG never allowed Western Carolina to take a lead in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A 5-0 run from Lee gave the Spartans the early advantage, never allowing the Catamounts to lead in the game. The Spartans continued to chip away at their lead. Later a 5-0 run from Levine granted UNCG with a 10-point lead at 4:05, 13-3. The Catamounts then secured their own 5-0 run, cutting the deficit to five at the end of the first frame, 15-10.
Ciara Harris got the scoring started with a triple coming out of the break. However, Western Carolina responded with an 8-2 run to make it a two-point game at 6:06, 20-18. The Spartans notched five unanswered points, continuing to maintain the advantage. The Catamounts were able to close out the first half with a 4-0 run, but the Spartans held the five-point lead going to the locker room, 30-25.
The Spartans started off the second half by outscoring the Catamounts, 22-17, in the third stanza. The Catamounts got on the board first with a 5-0 run, but UNCG recorded nine of its triples in the third quarter to stay in control. The frame was concluded with a jumper from
Kristina Rakotobe to grant UNCG with the 10-point lead going to the huddle.
Western Carolina's Justice Zimmerman put the Catamounts on the board first in the fourth quarter. The Spartans retaliated with a 12-0 run, taking their biggest lead of the game with a 20-point cushion at 6:21, 64-44. The Catamounts were able to respond with a 12-2 run, coming back within 12 with 54 seconds left in the game, 66-52. However, it wouldn't be enough as
Leyla Minor closed out the scoring, going 2-for-2 at the free throw line for the 68-54 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Asidanya matched her career-best five of five three-pointers.
- Rylan Moffitt led the contest with nine boards and chipped in six points.
- Levine paced the game with five assists.
- Seven different Spartans recorded a steal.
- The Spartans outrebounded the Catamounts, 39-28.
- UNCG bested Western Carolina in second chance points (13-4) and bench points (9-5).
- Western Carolina led the way in points from turnovers (13-12), points in the paint (36-22) and fast break points (11-7).
RECORDS
UNCG: 14-15, 4-10 SoCon
WCU: 3-25, 0-14 SoCon
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will enter the 2026 SoCon Tournament as the No. 7 seed, facing No. 2 ETSU on Thursday, March 5 at 1:15 p.m. in the first round. The SoCon Tournament will be held in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Harrah's Cherokee Center from March 5-8.
Click here for more information on the SoCon Tournament
