Women’s Basketball Closes Out Regular Season With 61-54 Win Over Catamounts
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team closed out the 2023-24 regular season with a 61-54 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday in Fleming Gym.
With today’s win over the Catamounts, UNCG finishes the 2023-24 season with a 15-1 home record. This is the best home record for the Spartans since the 2001-02 season, when the team went 12-1 at home.
Khalis Cain, Ayanna Khalfani and Jay’lin Hastings were recognized following Saturday’s win over the Catamounts in a special senior day ceremony.
In addition, prior to Saturday’s game Head Coach Trina Patterson was honored in a pregame ceremony recognizing her achievement on earning her 300th career win in the team’s 69-49 win over Mercer on Feb. 17.
Three Spartans recorded double figures in Saturday’s win. Jayde Gamble led the way with 20 points, Khalfani followed closely behind with 13 points, while Cain added 11 points for the Spartans.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Western Carolina got on the board first in the contest with a layup from Lonasia Brewer. Cain quickly responded with a second chance layup at 8:48 to turn the first quarter into a back-and-forth battle. Although the Catamounts gained the final two points in the first frame, UNCG still held the one-point advantage (14-13).
The Spartans continued to hold the advantage in the second quarter by outscoring the Catamounts, 18-10. A couple free throws followed by a layup from Khalfani gave UNCG the 32-23 lead going into the locker room.
The second half was more of the same with UNCG leading, but Western Carolina stayed within range. The third frame was the only one in which the Catamounts were able to outscore the Spartans, 15-11. However, UNCG was still able to hold its lead. A couple free throws from Cain, followed by a layup from Western Carolina’s Jada Burton ended the third quarter, with the Spartans on top, 43-38.
Western Carolina was able to come back within range on a couple occasions in the fourth quarter. With UNCG leading, 50-46, the Spartans sparked a 7-2 run to take the 57-48 lead over the Catamounts. Western Carolina was able to come back within five later after a couple free throws from Zanoria Cruz (59-54). Gamble closed out the contest adding two more points at the charity line to give UNCG the 61-54 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Gamble’s 20 points was her 20th game with double figures this season and her seventh game with 20 or more points.
Khalfani led the Spartans by recording a new career high of five steals.
Khalfani and Kelly Boyle paced the team with three dimes apiece.
Cain led UNCG with seven boards.
Gamble went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line and 2-for-4 from behind the arc.
RECORDS
UNCG: 19-10, 8-6, SoCon
Western Carolina: 6-23, 11-13, SoCon
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now turn their attention to the 2024 SoCon Tournament in Asheville, N.C., starting in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, March 7, with time and seeding to be determined following Saturday’s final regular season conference contests. With ETSU and Furman playing in the final game at 6 p.m., UNCG will learn its fate for Thursday’s quarterfinal round.
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.
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Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro
Women’s Basketball to Enter SoCon Tournament as No. 2 Seed
SoCon Basketball Tournament Central
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team will enter the 2024 Southern Conference (SoCon) Women’s Basketball Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Tournament will take place in Asheville, North Carolina at Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
The Spartans will play in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, March 7 at 1:15 p.m. against No. 7 Furman on ESPN+.
UNCG went 2-0 against No. 7 seed Furman (15-15, 5-9) during the regular season.
Chattanooga (25-4, 13-1 SoCon) won the regular-season title and will enter the 2024 tournament as the top seed. The Mocs will open the tournament against No. 8 seed Western Carolina (6-23, 1-13) on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Semifinal action will take place on Friday and the women’s championship game will tip off on Sunday at noon ET.
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!
2024 Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship
Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville Asheville, N.C.
Thursday, March 7 (ESPN+)
Game 1 – No. 1 Chattanooga vs. No. 8 Western Carolina, 11 a.m.*
Game 2 – No. 2 UNCG vs. No. 7 Furman, 1:15 p.m.^
Game 3 – No. 3 Wofford vs. No. 6 Samford, 3:30 p.m. ^
Game 4 – No. 4 Mercer vs. No. 5 ETSU, 5:45 p.m. ^
Friday, March 8 (ESPN+)
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 11 a.m.*
Game 6 – Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 1:15 p.m. ^
Sunday, March 10 (ESPN+ or ESPN U)
Championship Game
Game 7 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, Noon
* 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 Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro