Howard & Wiggins Lead Women’s Basketball in Win Over Furman, 74-69
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team had three players score double digit points in a 74-69 victory over Furman Saturday morning in Southern Conference (SoCon) play, for its second-straight win.
Nia Howard and Akira Wiggins each had 21 points. Howard’s total is a career high, while Wiggins & Nitzan Amar totaled a team high four assists each. Isys Grady was the third Spartan with double figures, tallying 15 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams traded baskets for the first 3:57 of the first frame, until Furman went on a five-point run for a four-point advantage, taking its largest lead in the first quarter, 10-6. The Spartans took back the advantage scoring eight-straight points, 14-10. They saw a seven-point lead three times in the frame, once with a free-throw from Wiggins at 1:18, and two layups from Howard at 0:44 and 0:34.
Howard made a layup 51 seconds into the second quarter to bring the advantage to seven, 25-18. Midway through the frame, Furman had a six-point run to tie the game at 32 with 3:53 left in the frame. UNCG came back with a 10-2 run, to conclude its scoring, but Furman’s Paraskevi Koilia splashed a three pointer with one second remaining to head to the locker room with a five-point deficit, 37-42.
Sydney James and Grace van Rij each had a layup in the paint to start an offensive attack for the Paladins bringing the deficit to one, 41-42 46 seconds into the third quarter. The score was tied three time in the frame with the Spartans taking back the lead after Howard drove to the basket for a layup with 1:03 left in the frame, 51-53 and Grady turned around with another layup for a four-point lead, 55-51.
Both teams went scoreless for the first minute of the final frame, until UNCG and Furman traded a set of free throws, 57-53. UNCG had its largest advantage of 11 points twice in the fourth quarter, once following a layup from Wiggins at 2:09 and then behind a jump shot from Faith Price at 1:45. Grady had a free-throw to end the quarter with two seconds left on the clock, bringing the final score to 74-69.
BY THE NUMBERS
UNCG outscored Furman in two quarters.
UNCG had 25 bench points to Furman’s seven.
The Spartans had 40 points in the paint compared to the Paladins’ 26.
Cain had seven rebounds to lead the team.
Wiggins made 9-of-10 free-throws.
UNCG has won the last nine out of 14 games against the Paladins.
The Spartans lead the series, 30-27.
RECORDS
UNCG: 12-13, 5-6 SoCon
Furman: 10-15, 2-8 SoCon
UP NEXT
UNCG is back home in Fleming Gym on Saturday, February 18th against Western Carolina with a tip off at 4 p.m. The Spartans continue the home stand with a game against ETSU on February 23 and Chattanooga on February 25 to finish out regular season play. February 25 will be the Spartans’ senior night.
Courtesy of Kelly Couse
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro
UNCG Men’s Basketball Prepares for Wofford on Sunday
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team continues a two-game home stand with its second game against Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Wofford on Sunday afternoon with a tip off of 3 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The Terriers enter the contest 13-13 overall and 5-8 in SoCon play, while the Spartans are 17-9 overall and 11-2 in conference play. Furman currently has the edge with a 12-2 mark to lead the conference, while Samford and UNCG are both 11-2.
GAME INFO
Where: Greensboro Coliseum | Greensboro, N.C.
When: Sunday, February 12
Time: 3 p.m.
Promotions: The first 1,000 students will receive a FREE t-shirt courtesy of UNCG Housing & Residence Life!
*********Bring your church bulletin and receive a FREE TICKET.**********
WATCH (ESPN+)
LAST TIME OUT
UNCG dominated ETSU, 91-65, on national television on Tuesday night at the Greensboro Coliseum.
This was the third game this season scoring 90 or more points.
It was the 12th win this season by double figures and third-straight game winning by 20 or more points. It was the fifth game this season where UNCG has won by 20 or more points.
UNCG’s 50 points in the first half was the second time this season that they reached that mark.
It was the first time since January 27, 2018 that the Spartans scored 50 or more points in the first half.
Keondre Kennedy led the Spartans with 21 points, while Keyshaun Langley followed with 19 points and Mikeal Brown-Jones had 11 points.
UNCG’s 15 threes was the most in a game this season and in the Mike Jones era.
This was the most threes in a game since UNCG made 16 against The Citadel on February 28, 2019 in Charleston, S.C.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
UNCG is leading the conference in field goal percentage defense (39.8), scoring defense (62.8), three-point percentage defense (30.7).
Among the nation, the Spartans 20th in field goal percentage defense, 26th in scoring defense, 40th in three point percentage defense, 62nd in scoring margin, 64th in turnover margin, 65th in defensive rebounds per game, 74th in assist/turnover ratio, 84th in assists per game, 90th in steals per game, 93rd in turnovers forced per game, and 94th in winning percentage.
In the nation, Kobe Langley is 22nd in steals (51), 37th in assist/turnover ratio (2.56), 52nd steals per game (1.96).
His twin brother, Keyshaun Langley is also ranked in the nation: 19th in three point percentage (42.0), 47th in steals (47), 48th in total three point field goals made (68), 75th in three pointers per game (2.62).
The Spartans are outscoring opponents, 71.0-62.8, and outrebounding their foes 36.4-33.5.
Keyshaun (13.8), Keondre Kennedy (13.1), and Brown-Jones (10.4) are leading the Spartans in points per game.
Abdulsalam (6.7) and Kennedy (6.1) are leading the team in rebounds per game.
UNCG MILESTONES
· Head Coach Mike Jones earned his 200th career win as a head coach on Wednesday, January 4 with the win over Chattanooga at the Greensboro Coliseum.
· He had 174 wins with Radford and currently has 28 victories with the Spartans.
· Kennedy scored his 1,000 career point during the first half in a 88-80 victory against Furman on Jan. 14 in Greenville, S.C.
· Keyshaun scored his 1,000 career point during the first half of a 62-50 win over VMI at the Greensboro Coliseum.
UNCG RECORD BOOK FACTS
· Keyshaun is tied for seventh all time in career steals (152), passing his father, Keyford Langley who had 140. Demetrius Troy is sixth with 160.
· Keyshaun is eighth all time in career three point field goals (196), 7th all time is Marvin Smith (200).
· Kobe Langley is 11th all time in career steals (136)
· Mohammed Abdulsalam is the UNCG leader in career games played (150).
· Abdulsalam is eighth in career rebounds (681), seventh is Demetrius Cherry (722).
· Dante Treacy is third all-time in career assists (472), Scott Harzell is second with 552, and Courtney Ledridge leads the Spartans with 584.
SCOUTING WOFFORD
The Terriers have lost the last three games, including a double overtime loss to Western Carolina, 91-95.
Wofford is leading the SoCon in fouls per game (13.7).
Nationally, they are seventh in fouls per game, 39th in turnovers per game, 47th in field goal percentage, 60th in effective field goal percentage, and 73rd in free throw percentage.
Wofford is just outscoring opponents 74.5-71.5 and outrebounding opponents 33.3-30.9.
B.J. Mack leads the Terriers averaging 15.7 points per game, while Jackson Paveletzke is second averaging 14.6.
Paveletzke is 53rd in the nation in free throw percentage (85.7) and 86th in free throws (96).
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Spartans travel for two of their three final road games of the regular season next week, first battling Samford on Wednesday, February 15 with a start time of 7:30 p.m. EST.
They then head to Chattanooga for a game on Saturday, February 18 with a start time of noon. This game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.
UNCG returns home for a mid-week contest against Western Carolina on Wednesday, February 22 at 7 pm. Prior to the game UNCG will recognize its seniors.
SERIES HISTORY
· Wofford leads the all-time series, 31-20.
· The two teams have split the series the last three years.
· UNCG won earlier this season, 73-64, in Spartanburg.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro