UNCG Women’s Basketball to Begin SoCon Action Hosting Wofford & Furman
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team will begin The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule this week by hosting Wofford on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. and Furman on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. in Fleming Gym.
Game Info vs. Wofford
Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym
When: Thursday, Jan. 11 | 7 p.m.
Watch: Live Stats | ESPN+
Tickets
Promotions: Pride Day! | First 100 UNCG student receive a FREE Pride Hat!
Game Info vs. Furman
Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym
When: Saturday, Jan. 13 | 2 p.m.
Watch: Live Stats | ESPN+
Tickets
Promotions: First 100 UNCG students will receive FREE pizza! | UNCG Alumni Game
LAST TIME OUT FOR UNCG
The Spartans most recently closed out their non-conference slate in dominating fashion with a 78-32 win over Livingstone in Fleming Gym on Thursday night.
Jayde Gamble paced the Spartans with 18 points and four steals.
Freshman duo Makiah Asidanya and Nina Horvath followed closely behind for both to earn a new career high of 10 points and two three-pointers.
Kelly Boyle posted a new career high of three rebounds.
Khalis Cain led the way with seven boards.
Nia Howard and Cain led UNCG with two blocks each.
UNCG scored 20 second chance points to Livingstone’s four.
The Spartans’ bench produced 41 points to the Blue Bears’ 18.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
UNCG heads into SoCon play with an 11-4 non-conference record, ranking third in the SoCon.
The Spartans are undefeated at home (9-0) for their best start at home since the 2001-02 season.
UNCG is currently ninth in the country with a 52.2 scoring defense average.
The squad leads the SoCon in eight statistical categories: assist/turnover ratio (0.99), blocks per game (4.4), field goal percentage defense (35.1), scoring defense (52.2), steals per game (8.8), scoring margin (14.7), turnover margin (3.27), and turnovers forced per game (17.00).
Gamble is ranked 14th nationally with 45 steals and 17th with a 3.00 steals per game average.
Cain is third in the SoCon with 123 boards this season.
Gamble leads the Spartans with 190 points. Ayanna Khalfani and Isys Grady follow closely behind with 147 and 146 points, respectively.
Cain stands atop the team with 13 blocks.
The Spartans were picked to finish sixth in the 2023-24 SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll, trailing ETSU, Chattanooga, Mercer, Wofford and Furman and coming in front of Samford and Western Carolina.
Grady was named to the 2023-24 SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team after her efforts in the 2022-23 season.
SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
Wofford heads to Greensboro with an 8-6 overall record and fifth in the SoCon.
The Terriers most recently earned a 74-43 victory over North Greenville on Monday, Jan. 1, in Spartanburg.
Wofford is 1-3 against power five conference opponents this season after claiming a 71-70 win over Virginia in Charlottesville, but dropping contests against Wake Forest, Tennessee, and Georgia.
The Terriers and Spartans have played one similar opponent in the non-conference schedule this season in UNC Asheville. Wofford defeated the Bulldogs, 63-54, while UNCG dropped its match, 72-71.
The team is fourth in the country with a 22.7 three-point percentage defense.
Wofford leads the SoCon in four statistical categories: defensive rebounds per game (28.7), three-point attempts per game (25.8), three-point percentage defense (22.7), and three pointers per game (7.5).
Rachel Rose is a significant player for the Terriers this season after being named the SoCon Player of the Week five times.
Rose leads the SoCon in six statistical categories: assist/turnover ratio (2.20), assists (77), assists per game (5.5), free throw percentage (88.1), points (280), and points per game (20.0).
Rose leads the Terriers with 280 points, while Maddie Heiss follows closely behind with 196.
Wofford will remain in N.C. to take on Western Carolina on Saturday Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. in Cullowhee.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE TERRIERS
UNCG leads in the overall series against Wofford at 38-20. The Terriers ended the 2022-23 season for the Spartans at the SoCon Tournament last year dropping, 68-63. Wofford went on to compete in the SoCon Championship falling to Chattanooga, 63-53. UNCG went 1-1 in regular season against Wofford last year, dropping its home match, 55-51, but defeating the Terriers in Spartanburg, 68-64.
SCOUTING THE PALADINS
Furman ends the non-conference schedule with a 10-6 overall record.
The Paladins will open up SoCon action at Western Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m., before coming to Greensboro.
Furman most recently defeated Converse in a 93-40 victory.
The Paladins and Spartans have competed against nine similar opponents across the non-conference schedule.
Furman ranks in the top-20 nationally in four categories with a 29.4 average of points off the bench, 12.8 rebound margin, 16.4 offensive rebounds per game, and a 44.31 rebounds per game.
Furman leads the SoCon in eight statistical categories: assists per game (15.2), bench points per game (29.4), free throw attempts per game (18.19), free throws made per game (12.38), rebound margin (12.8), offensive rebounds per game (16.4), rebounds per game (44.31), and scoring offense (72.8).
Jade Session leads the conference with five double-doubles, 143 rebounds and an 8.9 rebounds per game average.
Sessions paces the Paladins with 212 points, averaging 13.3 points per game.
Sydney Ryan stands out from behind the arc with 34 three-pointers this season.
Tate Walters leads the squad with 70 dimes and 20 steals.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE PALADINS
UNCG stands at 30-27 against Furman in the two teams’ overall series. The Spartans claimed both regular season wins against the Paladins last season with the most recent coming at Furman on Feb. 11, 2023. Nia Howard led UNCG with 21 points in the most recent matchup, while Isys Grady followed with 15 points.
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue in SoCon action on the road at Mercer on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. and at Samford on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. EST / 2 p.m. CST.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro