UNCG Women’s Basketball Falls in SoCon Championship Game
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The No. 2 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team ended its 2023-24 incredible season after dropping a 69-60 contest to No. 1 Chattanooga in The Southern Conference (SoCon) Championship on Sunday at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
Ayanna Khalfani and Jayde Gamble were named to the First Team SoCon All-Tournament Team, while Nia Howard earned Second Team for each of their incredible performances in the 2023-24 Southern Conference Tournament.
Sunday’s contest was the seventh time the Spartans have made it to the SoCon Championship in program history.
The 2023-24 season marks Head Coach Trina Patterson’s third season with 20 or more wins at UNCG.
Khalfani led the Spartans with 15 points on the day, while Isys Grady followed closely behind with 12 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG struck first in the contest after Nia Howard recorded a three-pointer for the 3-0 lead at 9:37. The Mocs responded with a 5-0 run for the 5-3 lead. The Spartans were able to bounce back by dropping seven unanswered points over the Mocs for the 10-5 lead. UNCG held the advantage for the remainder of the first frame to head into the break on top, 12-10.
A pair of free throws from Gamble started off the second quarter for the 14-10 advantage. However, Chattanooga was able to respond with an 11-0 run for the 21-14 lead. UNCG pulled within three after recording a 6-2 run (23-20). The Mocs continued to hold the advantage in the second frame. With 12 seconds remaining, Khalis Cain recorded a layup to close out the first half with Chattanooga holding the three-point advantage (32-29).
Chattanooga continued to hold the lead into the third quarter, despite UNCG hanging in close. With the Mocs up by six (39-33), a couple of free throws from Antoniette Emma-Nnopu and a three-pointer from Makiah Asidanya cut the deficit to one (39-38). A layup from Chattanooga’s Caia Elisaldez closed out the third quarter, 49-43.
The Spartans came back within two on three different occasions in the early goings of the first quarter. UNCG continued to stay within range in the final quarter. With 43 seconds left in the game, Gamble gave the Spartans two points at charity line to make it a two-possession game. However, the Mocs were able to come out down the stretch with a 4-0 run to come away with the 69-60 win for the SoCon Championship title.
BY THE NUMBERS
Khalfani and Gamble led the team with eight boards apiece.
Khalfani paced the way with six dimes.
UNCG had nine second chance points to Chattanooga’s zero.
RECORDS
UNCG: 21-11, 8-6, SoCon
Chattanooga: 28-4, 13-1, SoCon
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.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro