UNCG Women’s Basketball Concludes 2022 with Non-Conference Foe Lenoir-Rhyne
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team closes its non-conference portion of the schedule Friday evening when it hosts Division II Lenoir-Rhyne inside Fleming Gymnasium.
GAME INFO
Where: Fleming Gym | Greensboro, N.C.
When: Friday, December 30
Time: 7 p.m.
WATCH (ESPN+)
LAST TIME OUT
· The Spartans set many records in a 134-29 victory over Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL) on December 21.
· Faith Price(Ragsdale High School) broke the three-point field goals made record with eight, which was held by Micky Haywood (1993) and Nadine Soliman who had seven three times (2016, 2018, 2019).
· Her 13 three-point field goals attempted is tied for 4th in program history in single game records.
· Akira Wiggins broke the assists single game record in program history, previously held by Brenda Tolbert who had 13 versus St. Andrews on February 14,1984
· The 134 points is now a Division I record, as the last one was 106 vs. Erskine College on November 26, 2019. This mark is second in all-time program history, with 139 sitting first in a game versus Averett on February 23, 1988.
· The 105 points margin is the largest in program history, where 100 was the previous record versus Averett (139-39) on February 23, 1988. That Spartans team earned a spot in the national semifinals of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament later that season.
· The Spartans’ 58 field goals made is second in program history but is a new record in the Division I era, where the previous mark was 41 versus NC Central on December 30, 2015.
· UNCG’s 91 field goals attempted sits seventh overall in program history but is also a new record in the Division I era. The previous record was 87 versus Western Carolina on February 27, 2016.
· The 15 three pointers made by UNCG is a new record in program history, with 12 versus Illinois being the previous from November 24, 1995.
· The 47 assists are also a program record, with 32 versus Averett being the former on February 24, 1987.
· The 29 points scored by VUL is tied for ninth in program history for the fewest points allowed. In the Division I era, the 29 points is tied for third overall.
· UNCG’s 24 steals sits fifth overall in program history and fourth in the Division I era.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
· UNCG leads the Southern Conference (SoCon) in blocked shots (3.2), assists (14.5) and steals per game (9.4).
· The Spartans’ 0.9 assist-to-turnover ratio stands second in the league.
· UNCG has made 6.8 three-point field goals per contest, which stands as the second most in the conference.
· Price leads the Spartans with 11.0 points per game and leads the SoCon with 2.9 three-point field goals made per contest.
· Khalis Cain’s 9.5 rebounds per game stands atop of the SoCon as do her 1.7 blocks per game. Her field goal percentage (64.8 percent) stands second in the league. The forward also averages 8.6 points and 1.5 steals per game (fifth in the SoCon).
· Wiggins’ 4.2 assists per contest is good for second in the SoCon. The graduate student also posts 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game (fifth in the conference).
· The Spartans boast depth off the bench with Nitzan Amar leading the pack with 5.6 points and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field.
· Isys Grady (4.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game) and Antoniette Emma-Nnopu (5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game) help contribute to the Spartans’ +2.2 rebounding margin on the offensive glass.
SCOUTING LENOIR-RHYNE
· The Division II Bears are 13-0 on the season, a record that does not include a 57-46 win at UNC Wilmington on November 7 in exhibition action.
· Lenoir-Rhyne boasts rankings in two polls, standing 14th in the latest Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25 and 4th in the D2SIDA Top 25.
· The Bears boast ranked victories against Lander (10th) and Wingate (21st) in their South Atlantic Conference (SAC) opener.
· Lenoir-Rhyne earned a 77-60 victory over Mount Olive on December 19th.
· Blaikley Crooks and Brandi Hudson each led the Bears with 15 points and six rebounds.
· Hannah Stull added 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 6-of-6 from the foul line.
· Emily Harman leads the Bears with 14.8 points per game while adding a team-leading 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals. Harman also posts 3.1 assists per game and shoots 48 percent from the field.
· Hudson shoots 52.9 percent from the field and produces 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
· Crooks (12.8 points per game) and Azariah Fields (10.2) round out Lenoir-Rhyne’s double-figure scorers.
· The Bears have already eclipsed their 2021-22 win total. Lenoir-Rhyne posted an 11-15 overall record with a 10-14 mark in SAC play.
· Lenoir-Rhyne was picked to finish seventh in the SAC’s preseason poll, but the Bears have already earned wins against two teams picked to finish above Lenoir-Rhyne.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
· The Spartans enter SoCon play Thursday, January 5 when they travel to Mercer for a 7 p.m. contest.
· UNCG continues the road trip with a Saturday, January 7 matchup at Samford at 3 p.m. EST.
· The Spartans play five of seven January contests on the road, with their only two home games coming January 12 against Furman and January 14 versus Wofford.
SERIES HISTORY/LAST MATCHUP
· The Spartans hold a 5-1 series advantage over Lenoir-Rhyne.
· The series dates back to the 1982-83 season when the Bears earned a 67-59 win over the Spartans.
· UNCG posted a 68-47 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne last season on November 21, 2021.
· Aja Boyd led the Spartans with 16 points and seven rebounds.
· Grady posted 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.
· Like tomorrow’s game, last season’s matchup was an exhibition contest for Lenoir-Rhyne, not counting towards their overall record.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro