Women’s Basketball Records Program Best SoCon Regular Season Finish with 76-37 Win Over Mercer
MACON, Ga. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team concluded the 2024-25 Regular Season on Saturday afternoon with a dominating 76-37 win over the Mercer Bears at Hawkins Arena in The Southern Conference (SoCon) action.
With today’s win over the Bears, UNCG has concluded the regular season slate 13-1 in league play for its best SoCon finish in program history.
In addition, UNCG’s win over Mercer extended the team’s winning streak to 11. The last time the Spartans tallied an 11-game win streak was in the 1996-97 season from Jan. 22 to Feb. 28.
Four Spartans reached double-figures in the game. Nya Smith led the way with 14 points, while Jaila Lee and Nia Howard followed with 13 points apiece. Makiah Asidanya chipped in 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
At 9:35, Howard put the Spartans on the board first with a jumper from the field for a 2-0 advantage. Mercer’s Ashlee Locke tied it up on the other end with a jumper at 9:07, 2-2. However, Howard responded with a triple for a 5-2 advantage to never allow Mercer to lead in the game. A tip-in layup from Khalis Cain granted UNCG with a 16-10 lead to close out the first frame.
The Spartans went on to outscore the Bears, 24-3, in the second quarter. UNCG also held Mercer to three points in the second quarter during the two teams meeting in Greensboro earlier this season. The Blue & Gold went 4-for-7 from downtown in the second stanza. Before heading to the locker room, Asidanya gave the team a buzzer-beating three from the logo for a 40-13 lead at the half.
Mercer’s Ariana Bennett scored first with a jumper coming out the break before the Spartans notched six unanswered points for a 46-15 lead. Three-pointers from Jailah Clark-Jones and Howard concluded the second quarter with UNCG holding a 57-22 advantage.
The final frame saw Mercer’s best scoring, but UNCG was still able to outscore the home team, 19-15. Saturday’s contest was concluded with a three-point play from Ayanna Jackson and one final jumper from Clark-Jones to grant UNCG the 76-37 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Spartans recorded 12 three-pointers in the game for their fifth game with double-figure triples this season.
A total of 10 different Spartans scored in the game.
Howard and Lee went a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc.
Cain led the way with six boards and two blocks.
Kelly Boyle and Asidanya paced the team with three dimes apiece.
UNCG bested Mercer in points in the paint (30-18), points off turnovers (20-6), second chance points (18-0), fast break points (9-2) and bench points (38-0).
RECORDS
UNCG: 22-6, 13-1 SoCon
Mercer: 8-21, 3-11 SoCon
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will enter the 2025 SoCon Tournament as the No. 1 seed facing No. 8 Western Carolina on Thursday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. in Asheville, North Carolina, at Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro
No. 1 UNCG to Face No. 8 Western Carolina in SoCon Quarterfinals
SoCon Basketball Tournament Central
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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women’s basketball team will enter the 2025 Southern Conference (SoCon) Women’s Basketball Tournament as the No. 1 seed after earning the SoCon Regular Season Title outright. The Tournament will take place in Asheville, North Carolina, at Harrah’s Cherokee Center from March 6-9.
The Spartans will take on No. 8 Western Carolina in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
UNCG swept the matchups this year winning, 66-58, on Jan. 25 in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and 57-53, on Feb. 22. in Greensboro, North Carolina. UNCG is looking for its first tournament championship since the 1997-98 season.
This is the second time in program history the Spartans have secured the SoCon Regular Season Title outright and fourth time earning at least a share. In addition, UNCG concluded the 2025 conference slate with a 13-1 record for its best SoCon regular season finish in program history.
Semifinal action will take place on Friday and the women’s championship game will tip off on Sunday at noon ET.
All women’s basketball games will be held at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville and are set to be on ESPN+. The semifinal matches will be broadcast on Nexstar affiliates. The title game will air on ESPNU for the first time in conference history. For more information, visit SoConSports.com.
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2025 Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship
Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville Asheville, N.C.
Thursday, March 7
Game 1 – No. 1 UNCG vs. No. 8 Western Carolina, 11 a.m.*
Game 2 – No. 2 Chattanooga vs. No. 7 Mercer, 1:15 p.m.^
Game 3 – No. 3 ETSU vs. No. 6 Furman, 3:30 p.m. ^
Game 4 – No. 4 Wofford vs. No. 5 Samford, 5:45 p.m. ^
Friday, March 8
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
Championship Game
Game 7 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, Noon
NOTE: All times Eastern. All games on Thursday and Friday to be broadcast on ESPN+, with the championship game on ESPNU.
* Tip-off as part of Education Day program on March 6 and March 7.
^ 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