Cain and Wiggins Named To All-Conference Teams
Southern Conference Announces All-Conference Awards
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team saw junior Khalis Cain and graduate student Akira Wiggins recognized by the Southern Conference (SoCon) on the All-Defensive team and Media All-Conference second team, respectively.
Khalis Cain
Cain was named SoCon Player of the Week on January 3rd after starting and playing in 25 minutes in UNCG’s lone game of the week defeating Lenoir-Rhyne, 68-60 on Dec. 3. She scored 15 points and tied for a game-high 11 rebounds in the contest, while blocking two shots. Cain shot 7-for-9 (.778) from the field as the junior posted her fourth double-double of the season.
This season, Cain has had career bests in minutes played (688), field goals (89), field goal percentage (.597), free throws (45), free throw percentage (.608), offensive rebounds (122), defensive rebounds (121), total rebounds (243), average rebounds (9.0), total blocks (37), total steals (29), total points (223), and average points (8.3).
Cain is ranked sixth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (4.6), 45th in rebounds per game (9.1). 76th in total blocks (39), and 85th in blocks per game (1.39).
Cain leads the conference going into the SoCon Tournament in total blocks, blocks per game, total rebounds, offensive rebounds, and rebounds per game.
Akira Wiggins
As a captain of her team, she has played a average of 31.5 minutes per game. She is leading the Spartans in scoring averaging 11.7 points per game, assists with 126, and steals with 36.
Wiggins is leading the SoCon in assists and assists per game. During UNCG’s game on Dec. 21 versus Virginia University of Lynchburg, Wiggins tallied a program record 15 assists in the contest. She also went 11-for-11 in free throw attempts in a SoCon game against Samford on Jan. 7.
She is leading the conference in assists and assists per game. She is nationally ranked 53rd in assists per game (4.5) and 57th in total assists (127).
Up Next
The Spartans earned the No. 4 seed in the SoCon Tournament and will face Mercer, the No. 5 seed in their first game on Thursday, March 2nd at 1:15 p.m. at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
The games will be streamed on ESPN+ and Nexstar.
Coaches All-Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Teams
Player of the Year
Rachael Rose, So., G, Wofford
Freshman of the Year
Raven Thompson, F, Chattanooga
Defensive Player of the Year
Summah Evans, Jr., F, Mercer
Coach of the Year
Brenda Mock Brown, ETSU
Ann Lashley Inspiration Award Winner
Kyla Allison, Gr., G, Western Carolina
First team
Jiselle Thomas, Gr., ETSU
Amoria Neal-Tysor, Gr., Mercer
Andrea Bailey, Sr., Samford
Yazz Wazeerud-Din, Gr., Chattanooga
Rachael Rose, So., Wofford
Second team
Kendall Folley, So., ETSU
Grace van Rij, Gr., Furman
Raven Thompson, Fr., Chattanooga
Kyla Allison, Gr., Western Carolina
Jackie Carman, 5th, Wofford
All-defensive team
Kendall Folley, So., ETSU
Summah Evans, Jr., Mercer
Khalis Cain, Jr., UNCG
Andrea Bailey, Sr., Samford
Helen Matthews, Jr., Wofford
All-freshman team
Jaelyn Acker, Furman
Enjulina Gonzalez, Mercer
Raven Thompson, Chattanooga
Carly Heidger, Samford
Masyn Marchbanks, Samford
SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) All-Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Teams
Player of the Year
Andrea Bailey, Sr., G, Samford
Freshman of the Year
Raven Thompson, F, Chattanooga
Coach of the Year
Jimmy Garrity, Wofford
First team
Jiselle Thomas, Gr., ETSU
Amoria Neal-Tysor, Gr., Mercer
Andrea Bailey, Sr., Samford
Yazz Wazeerud-Din, Gr., Chattanooga
Rachael Rose, So., Wofford
Second team
Kendall Folley, So., ETSU
Grace van Rij, Gr., Furman
Akira Wiggins, Gr., UNCG
Raven Thompson, Fr., Chattanooga
Jackie Carman, 5th, Wofford
Third team
Erin Houpt, G, Mercer
Khalis Cain, UNCG
Sussy Ngulefac, So., Samford
Kyla Allison, Gr., Western Carolina
Lilly Hatton, Sr., Wofford
All-freshman team
Journee McDaniel, ETSU
Jaelyn Acker, Furman
Enjulina Gonzalez, Mercer
Raven Thompson, Chattanooga
Masyn Marchbanks, Samford
Courtesy of Kelly Couse
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro
No. 4 UNCG Women’s Basketball Set for No. 5 Mercer in SoCon Quarterfinal
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team, who received the No. 4 seed, is set to head to Asheville, N.C. for the 2023 Southern Conference Tournament where they will go head-to-head with the No. 5 Mercer Bears.
UNCG is entering the tournament with a 15-13 overall mark and an 8-6 SoCon record, while the two-time defending SoCon Tournament Champions, Mercer has a 12-15 record and an 8-6 SoCon mark.
Mercer and UNCG have faced off twice in the postseason splitting the series, 1-1. The Bears took a 75-53 victory on March 3, 2016. On March 3, 2020, UNCG won 75-73 in overtime.
The two teams will face off in a quarterfinal matchup with a tipoff scheduled for 1:15 p.m. at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center. The Spartans are 9-13 in SoCon Quarterfinal games.
The winner of the Spartans versus the Bears will move on to the semifinal game set for Friday, March 3 at 11 a.m. versus the winner of the No. 1 Wofford Terriers vs. No. 8 Western Carolina.
Game Info
Where: Asheville, N.C. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center
When: Thursday, March 2
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Tickets: Ticket Information
WATCH (ESPN+)
Promotion: Education Day games. Games and activities at Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville will honor local schools and educators. Kids from Asheville City Schools, Buncombe County Schools, and surrounding counties will attend games on Thursday and Friday free of charge.
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans are currently on the largest win streak in the SoCon after defeating Chattanooga on Saturday, 56-54.
The five-game win streak is the longest win streak for the Spartans since the 2019-20 season when they went on an eight-game winning streak.
Akira Wiggins led the Spartans with 14 points.
Khalis Cain chilled in nine points and seven rebounds, to lead the team.
The Spartans had 34 points in the paint compared to the Mocs’ 26.
UNCG had double the points off turnovers compared to Chattanooga, 18-9.
There were 10 tied scores and nine lead changes in the game.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Spartans went 5-2 in the month of February.
UNCG is leading the conference in turnovers forced per game (16.61).
The Spartans are nationally ranked 31st in offensive rebounds per game (14.2), 65th in turnovers per game (14.0), and 75th in turnover margin (2.64).
UNCG is second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (0.85) and turnover margin (2.64).
Wiggins is leading the conference in total assists (127) and assists per game (4.5).
In the nation, Wiggins is 53rd in assists per game and 57th in assists.
Cain is leading the conference in total blocks (39), blocks per game (1.39), total rebounds (254), offensive rebounds (4.6), and rebounds per game (9.1).
Cain is nationally ranked sixth in offensive rebounds, 45th in rebounds per game, 51st in rebounds, 76th in blocks, and 85th in blocks per game.
Price is first in the conference in three-point attempts (210), total three-pointers made (71), and three-pointers per game (2.54).
Nationally, Price is 23rd in three-point attempts, 41st in three-pointers made per game, and 42nd in total three-pointers.
SPARTAN RECOGNITION
Most recently, Cain earned her second-career All-Conference recognition, being named to the SoCon All-Defensive Team and the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) All-SoCon third team.
During the 2020-21 season, she was named to the Coaches and Media All-Freshman Teams.
Wiggins was voted to the SCSMA second team.
Earlier in the season, Cain was the only Spartan to earn SoCon Player of the Week honors. She had a double-double (15 pts, 11 rebounds) en route to a 68-60 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on December 3.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Mercer has won two of its last three games, with wins over Samford, 70-59 and Furman, 88-69.
The Bears are leading the conference in free throw percentage (79.6) and three-point percentage (39.0).
In the nation, Mercer is second in free throw percentage and fourth in three point percentage.
Erin Houpt is leading the nation by shooting 93.8 percent from the free throw line (90-for-96).
In the nation, Houpt is 16th in three point percentage (42.3), 41st in minutes per game (35.95), 54th in three pointers per game (2.44), 67th in three pointers (66)
Houpt is first on the team with a .423 three point percentage.
Amoria Neal-Tysor, who was named SoCon Player of the Week twice this season, is pacing the Bears with 17.2 points per game, 2.41 assists per game, and 1.08 steals per game.
Summah Evans averages 6.5 rebounds per game to lead the Bears.
SERIES HISTORY
The Spartans opened conference play with a 72-68 victory over the Mercer Bears on January 5 in Macon, Georgia.
Mercer then won 65-46 on February 4 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Mercer leads the series 17-4.
2023 Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship
Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, N.C.
Thursday, March 2
Game 1 – No. 1 Wofford vs. No. 8 Western Carolina, 11 a.m.*
Game 2 – No. 4 UNCG vs. No. 5 Mercer, 1:15 p.m.^
Game 3 – No. 2 Chattanooga vs. No. 7 Furman, 3:30 p.m. ^
Game 4 – No. 3 ETSU vs. No. 6 Samford, 5:45 p.m. ^
Friday, March 3
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.*
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 1:15 p.m. ^
Sunday, March 5
Championship Game
Game 7 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, Noon
NOTE: All times Eastern. All games to be broadcast on ESPN+, with the championship game also on Nexstar.
* Tip-off as part of Education Day program on March 2 and March 3.
^ Denotes approximate game time. The first games both days will have a firm start time. Each game thereafter will start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding game but will not start prior to the listed time.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro