UNCG Women’s Basketball Drops Battle with USC Upstate, 60-55
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team dropped a close battle with Big South foe USC Upstate, 60-55, on Saturday afternoon inside Bodford Arena.
Two Spartans registered double-figures in the contest. Gloria Tony led the Spartans with 13 points, while Rose Simpson added 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
USC Upstate scored the opening four points before Simpson answered with a 5-0 run, sinking two free throws and a three-pointer to give UNCG its first lead. Following a USC Upstate basket, Amy Jakpa and Tony connected on consecutive jumpers for a 9-6 advantage with 4:17 remaining. The visitors responded with four straight points before Joelle Davis knocked down a three-pointer at the 2:09 mark, sending UNCG into the second quarter ahead, 12-10.
USC Upstate opened the period on a 5-0 run to move in front, 15-12. Kristina Rakotobe answered with a jumper, and Minor and Tony later combined for four unanswered points to give UNCG an 18-17 edge with 3:58 remaining. The teams traded the lead over the remainder of the quarter. Rakotobe’s jumper with 27 seconds left put UNCG ahead, 22-21, before USC Upstate’s Grace Booth scored with one second remaining to give Upstate a 23-22 halftime advantage.
Tony opened the second half with consecutive baskets for a 4-0 UNCG run and a 26-23 lead. USC Upstate answered with four straight points, and the teams continued to exchange baskets before Tony’s three-pointer gave UNCG a 31-29 edge. With the score tied at 31, a Tony jumper and two Rakotobe free throws sparked a 10-4 Spartan run, capped by a Davis triple for a 41-35 advantage with 2:37 left. USC Upstate later scored five unanswered points to pull within one, but Savannah Robinson-Holmes buried a three-pointer with one second remaining to give UNCG a 46-42 lead entering the fourth.
After a USC Upstate three-pointer, Tiarna Chambers-Desmond scored five straight points to stretch UNCG’s lead to six, 51-45, with 8:18 remaining. USC Upstate responded with a 5-0 run before Minor connected from beyond the arc for a 54-50 advantage at the 6:42 mark. A Chambers-Desmond free throw kept UNCG ahead, 55-52, with 4:40 left, but USC Upstate closed the game on an 8-0 run. Zoe Richardson tied the contest with a three-point play and scored the go-ahead basket with 2:52 remaining before Booth added three free throws for the final margin.
BY THE NUMBERS
Minor paced the Spartans with 10 rebounds and three blocks to go along with seven points, three assists and two steals.
Rakotobe finished with eight points, seven rebounds, a team-high four assists and two steals.
Jakpa grabbed eight rebounds, including three on the offensive glass.
Davis and Chambers-Desmond contributed six points apiece, while Chambers-Desmond added four rebounds and two blocks.
UNCG connected on eight three-pointers, with Simpson and Davis making two each.
The Spartans held a 6-4 advantage in blocks.
Upstate finished with a 51-42 rebounding advantage and led in points in the paint (36-14), second chance points (19-9) and bench points (27-14).
RECORDS
UNCG: 3-2
USC UPSTATE: 4-1
UNCG WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
To hear about ticket options for UNCG women’s basketball home games, contact the ticket office to discuss full season, flex plans, discounted groups tickets, or single game tickets. For more information, please contact Ashlynn Templin in the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250 or email antemplin@uncg.edu
UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue in Bodford Arena, hosting North Carolina Central on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:00 p.m. The first 100 UNCG students to arrive will receive a free Santa Hat!
from Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro