UNCG Women’s Basketball Soars Past Furman, 60-49
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Two Spartans scored in double figures, as the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team beat Furman University, 60-49 on Thursday evening, at the Fleming Gym in Southern Conference (SoCon) play.
Akira Wiggins had a game-high in both points (18) and assists (6). Faith Price(Ragsdale High School) was the other Spartan that scored in double digits, contributing 16 points. Khalis Cain had a game high with 10 rebounds.
FROM HEAD COACH TRINA PATTERSON
“We went into the game being prepared for a really tough challenge and it ended up being that way. Both teams had to grind out during every possession. We really focused on boxing out because Furman is a really tough team inside the paint. I am really proud of our defense. We look more like our defensive self. The grit of the team, we just really needed to stay positive. Akira and Faith did really well tonight. But, I am really proud of our bench. We wouldn’t have won without Nitz, and Kennedy came out strong.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG outscored Furman in the first quarter 10-9, as Price and Kennedy Simpson led the Spartans with three points and Cain paced the team with three rebounds. The lead toggled four times in the frame, before the Spartans ended the quarter with a one-point lead after a three-pointer from Simpson and a layup from Jordan Releford.
Furman opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run for a seven-point advantage, 19-12. UNCG scored seven-straight points to tie the game at 19, as Wiggins ran down the court for a fastbreak layup with 3:03 remaining. The Paladins closed the second quarter with a layup from Grace van Rij for a two-point advantage, 21-19.
Cain made a layup within the first 30 seconds of the third quarter to tie the game for the fourth time at 21. UNCG fended off Furman for just over three minutes of play into the frame climbing to a two-point lead, 25-22. The Paladins score their first basket of the quarter at 5:49. Another seven-point run, where Price drained two three pointers, extended UNCG’s lead to seven, 32-25. Furman was able to come within two, twice, including the final second of the third quarter with van Rij hitting a buzzer beater, 36-38.
UNCG held the lead for the remainder of the game, as it climbed to a 13-point lead, its highest of the game, three times. All three game when Wiggins made a basket. Wiggins scored 10 of her 18 points in the final frame.
BY THE NUMBERS
UNCG outscored Furman in three out of four quarters.
UNCG had 18 points off the bench compared to Furman’s five.
Faith Price(Ragsdale HS) had two blocks for a team high.
Wiggins, Cain, Grady, and Amar all had two steals for the Spartans.
The Spartans had 20 points off turnovers to the Paladins nine.
From Coach Patterson on bouncing back after halftime
“The adjustment was, ‘Stay positive, we will make shots. Keep playing defense, don’t let their transition offense get started. And let’s keep making shots.’ We came back, we calmed down, and we made some adjustments. We played with confidence and that’s all we need to do.”
RECORDS
UNCG: 9-8, 2-1 SoCon
Furman: 8-9, 0-2 SoCon
UP NEXT
The Spartans are back home in Fleming Gym on Saturday, January 14 to face Wofford in a 4 p.m. contest, before hitting the road again to face Western Carolina on Thursday, January 19 at 7 p.m.
Girl Scouts get in free for Saturday’s game versus the Terriers.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro