Cain Leads UNCG Women’s Basketball in Loss to Florida, 79-55
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team dropped its final road contest of the 2022 season to the Florida Gators, 79-55, Sunday afternoon at Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Khalis Cain was the only Spartan with double digit points, tallying 12 points with eight rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Florida outscored UNCG in the first quarter 16-1, as Jordan Releford put up the only point for the Spartans with a free throw at 54-seconds left.
UNCG opened the second quarter with the first basket, as Cain drove to the basket for a layup at 9:34, 3-16. The Spartans went on a 4-2 run to cut the deficit to 11, 7-18, with 6:68 remaining in the frame. The Spartans held the Gators scoreless for 1:45, where UNCG capitalized with a three pointer from Akira Wiggins and a layup from Faith Price for a 10-point deficit, 16-26.
The Spartans’ defense was strong for another 3:15 keeping Florida from scoring to cut the deficit to eight, 20-28. Florida made the final shot with four-seconds remaining for a 10-point advantage into the locker room, 30-20.
Cain broke the Gators’ 9-0 run with a layup at 7:16 in the third quarter, 22-39. Florida extended its lead to 20, 50-30 with 2:54 remaining in the frame. UNCG fought back and went on a 9-3 to run to conclude the quarter cutting the deficit to 14, 39-53.
Florida climbed its way to a 27-point lead in the fourth quarter, its largest of the game, 78-51. Isys Grady hit UNCG’s second three-pointer of the game with 1:24 remaining and then made one-of-two free throws to close the gap to 23, 55-78, before the Gators’ secured the win, 79-55.
BY THE NUMBERS
UNCG outscored Florida in the second quarter, 19-14.
Akira Wiggins was second on the team with eight points, four rebounds, and three steals.
Kennedy Simpson had the Spartans’ lone block, as she chipped in five points and three boards.
Florida outrebounded UNCG, 32-44.
RECORDS
UNCG: 5-7
Florida: 11-1
UP NEXT
The Spartans head home for one of two final non-conference battles, hosting Virginia University of Lynchburg first on Wednesday, December 21 in Fleming Gym with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro