MACON, GA. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team came up short to The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Mercer on Thursday night, 67-58, at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Georgia.
 
Jeni Levine was the leading scorer in the contest after her 15 points all came in the final 12 minutes of the game. Makiah Asidanya chipped in 10 points to add to the Spartans double-figure scoring. Rylan Moffitt paced the game with eight boards.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer got out to an 11-0 scoring run to begin the contest. However, at 6:23, Tasia Johnson knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 10-0 Spartan run, making it a one-point game at 4:53. A layup from Kristina Rakotobe at 3:58 saw the first tie of the game, 12-12, but Mercer continued to keep UNCG from taking the lead. With the Bears on top 18-14, Johnson chipped in another triple, going 3-for-3 from downtown in the first frame to make it a one-point game at the break, 18-17.
 
The scoring continued to toggle back-and-forth in the second frame as both teams scored 12 points apiece in the quarter. However, the Bears continued to not let the Spartans take a lead. With the Bears on top, 30-25, Mia Simpson chipped in four-straight free throws to make it a one-point game once again at the half, 30-29.
 
Coming out of the locker room, Moffitt gave the Spartans their first lead of the contest with a jumper at 8:58, 31-30. However, the Bears responded with a 14-2 run to take a 44-33 advantage at 2:51. A 5-2 run from Levine alone cut UNCG's deficit to eight at 1:15, 46-38. However, Mercer maintained the nine-point edge at the end of the third quarter, 49-40.
 
Mercer's Rania Curry got the first points of the fourth frame before UNCG tallied six-straight points, cutting the deficit to five, 51-46, at 7:40. Both teams exchanged 5-2 runs as the Bears continued to maintain the advantage. Levine tallied the final basket of the game with a three-pointer at 21 seconds remaining, but it wasn't enough to keep Mercer from claiming the 67-58 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Johnson chipped in nine points, all coming from downtown in the first quarter.
• Asidanya, Moffitt and Johnson recorded two assists each.
• Levine and Moffitt recorded one block apiece.
• Asidanya and Ciara Harris led UNCG with two steals each.
• UNCG led the way in bench points (16-14) and points in the paint (24-20).
• Mercer paced the contest in points off turnovers (23-21), rebounds (33-29), second chance points (9-8), fast break points (21-5), blocks (3-2) and steals (12-7).
• The game was tied in assists (10-10).

RECORDS
UNCG: 13-10, 3-5 SoCon
MER: 13-9, 3-4 SoCon

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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 conclude the week by taking on the Samford Bulldogs at Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. CST tip-off.