Women’s Basketball Returns Home to Host Samford & Mercer
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team returns home this week to host Samford on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. and Mercer on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. in Fleming Gym.
Game Info vs Samford
Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym
When: Thursday, Feb. 15 | 7 p.m.
Watch: Live Stats | ESPN+
Tickets
Promotion: Breast Cancer Awareness. The first 100 UNCG students will receive a FREE pink beanie!
Game Info vs Mercer
Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym
When: Saturday, Feb. 17 | 2 p.m.
Watch: Live Stats | ESPN+
Tickets
Promotion: Black History Month Celebration
The first 100 UNCG students will receive a FREE t-shirt!
LAST TIME OUT FOR UNCG
The Spartans most recently dropped a 66-60 contest at Wofford on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Ayanna Khalfani paced the Spartans with 15 points. Antoniette Emma-Nnopu followed closely behind with a season high of 13 points and adding 11 rebounds for her second career double-double and first this season.
UNCG came back to outscore the Terriers 24-12 in the fourth quarter.
Khalfani and Khalis Cain followed behind Emma-Nnopu with five boards apiece.
Emma-Nnopu and Cain collected one block apiece.
Khalfani and Isys Grady added two steals apiece.
Nia Howard and Jayde Gamble tag teamed for eight points apiece.
The Spartans has 12 second chance points to the Terriers’ nine.
UNCG had 34 points in the paint, while Wofford only collected 20.
The Spartans collected 22 points off the bench to the Terriers’ 16.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Spartans come into Thursday’s matchup to Samford with a 15-9 overall record and 4-5 in The Southern Conference (SoCon).
UNCG stands in a tie for fourth place with upcoming SoCon opponent Mercer.
UNCG is currently ranked in the top-50 nationally in blocks per game (4.3), offensive rebounds per game (14.5) and scoring defense (56.5).
In addition, the team’s 4.3 blocks per game average is the top in the SoCon.
Cain is ranked 16th nationally and first in the conference with a 4.0 offensive boards per game average.
Gamble continues to stand out nationally on the defensive end at 26th and 38th in steals (59) and steals per game (2.46), respectively.
UNCG is outscoring its opponents with a 64.4 to 56.5 points per game average.
Gamble paces the Spartans with 319 points, and a 13.3 scoring average while Khalfani follows closely behind with 253 points and a 10.5 points per game average.
Cain leads the team with a total of 193 boards and 25 blocks this season.
Khalfani stands out with 84 dimes.
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 BULLDOGS
Samford comes to Greensboro with an 11-13 overall record and 3-6 in the SoCon.
The Bulldogs stand at seventh place with Furman in the conference.
Samford most recently took a 69-56 loss to ETSU on Saturday, Feb. 10
Emily Bowman is ranked nationally at 10th with 62 blocks and 14th with a 2.58 blocks per game average.
Sadie Stetson leads the conference with a 41.1 three-point percentage.
Carly Heidger leads the team with 235 points this season and a 9.8 scoring average.
Samford was picked to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Masyn Marchbanks was picked to the 2023-24 Preseason All-SoCon Team.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE BULLDOGS
Samford leads the overall series at 27-7. The two teams met earlier this season in Birmingham, Ala., when the Bulldogs claimed a 62-53 win over the Spartans.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Mercer heads into the week with a 10-15 overall and 4-5 in the conference.
The Bears most recently came up just short in a 61-52 loss to SoCon leader Chattanooga on Saturday, Feb. 10 in Macon, Ga.
The Bears had two players score in double figures, led by Mackenzie Johnson, who had 11 points. Deja Williams added 10 points and Briana Peguero added seven points, two steals and two blocks.
Mercer leads the SoCon with an 8.2 steals per game average and with a 15.80 turnovers forced per game average.
Deja Williams leads the SoCon with 53 three-pointers this season.
Ashlee Locke is second in the conference with 31 blocks and a 1.24 blocks per game average.
Stacie Jones leads the Bears this season with 276 points and an 11.0 scoring average.
Mercer was picked to finish third in the 2023-24 Preseason SoCon Coaches’ Poll with one first place vote.
Enjulina Gonzalez was selected the 2023-24 Preseason SoCon All-Conference Team.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE BEARS
UNCG trails in the overall series at 5-18. Mercer earned the 76-52 win over UNCG in Macon, Ga., earlier this season.
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR
UNCGgear.com is your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!
TICKETS
To purchase tickets for any home games for the 2023-24 UNCG women’s basketball season, click here to learn more or call the UNCG Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 334-3250.
UP NEXT
Following this week’s games, the Spartans will close out the regular season road SoCon schedule at ETSU on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. and Chattanooga on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro