UNCG Women’s Basketball Tops Mercer in Overtime Win, Patterson Wins 100th Game at UNCG
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The No.4 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team pulled out a nail-biting overtime win over No. 5 Mercer, in a quarterfinal game in the Southern Conference (SoCon) basketball tournament on Thursday afternoon.
With the win, Head Coach Trina Patterson earned her 100th win with the Blue & Gold. The Spartans extended its win streak to six.
Three Spartans scored double figures, including Akira Wiggins who had a team high 17 points, and Isys Grady and Nia Howard each had 14 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spartans held the lead for all four quarters until the Bears tied the game with five seconds left, 59-59.
UNCG went on an 8-0 run to start the game. The Bears reacted and went on a 10-4 run to close the deficit to three before the end of the frame, 16-13.
Both teams went scoreless for almost two minutes after Howard had a fast break layup, just 22 seconds into the quarter, 18-13. UNCG had a lead of nine once in the frame when Isys Grady drove one to the basket with 3:42 left, 27-18. Mercer’s 8-2 run, where Enjulina Gonzalez scored all the points cut the deficit to three before heading to the locker room, 29-26.
The two teams traded baskets in the first four minutes of the third quarter before UNCG’s six-straight points extended its lead to 10, 39-29, at 5:10. UNCG ended the frame following a seven-point advantage with a free-throw from Kennedy Simpson with eight seconds left.
Mercer fought hard in the fourth quarter, but UNCG responded each time until a 7-1 run in favor of the Bears tied the game at 59.
Mercer began overtime with two free-throws and a jumper, to take its first lead of the game, 59-55. UNCG fended off the Bears for the remainder of the frame scoring eight straight points to take back the lead and secure the win, 63-59.
BY THE NUMBERS
UNCG was 19-for-27 for free-throws.
The Spartans held the lead for 39:55.
UNCG had 13 second-chance points over Mercer’s four
Khlais Cain contributed eight points and nine rebounds.
She also had a game-high five blocks, which is also a season high for her.
Wiggins had four blocks for a career-high.
RECORDS
UNCG: 16-13, 8-6 SoCon
MERCER: 12-16, 8-6 SoCon
UP NEXT
The Spartans will play the No. 1 seeded Wofford Terriers, on Friday March 3rd, with a tip off at 11 a.m. at Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro
