GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team will return to Fleming Gym for a three-game home stretch starting with a non-conference matchup with the Mountaineers of Appalachian State at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Saturday's game is part of a doubleheader with men's basketball hosting North Carolina Wesleyan at 1:00 pm.
 

SERIES HISTORY
App State and UNCG met in both team's 2023-24 season opener last year. The Mountaineers claimed the 71-65 win over the Spartans in Boone, North Carolina. The Spartans trail in the overall series against the Mountaineers at 29-35.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG most recently fell to Coastal Carolina, 62-69, in its first road contest of the season, in Conway, South Carolina.
• Jaila Lee and Jayde Gamble both reached double figures in the matchup with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
• In her first start as a Spartan, Tasia Johnson matched her career-best with eight points and earned a new career-high of four boards.
• Kelly Boyle went a perfect 4-for-4 in free-throws, for a new career-high and chipped in nine points.
• Khalis Cain led the squad with eight rebounds, while Kristina Rakotobe posted a career-high of seven rebounds.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• UNCG comes into Saturday's contest with a 2-1 overall record. 
• The Spartans stand atop the league in six statistical categories: bench points per game (32.0), field-goal percentage (45.5), fouls per game (12.3), scoring defense (51.3), scoring margin (20.3) and turnover margin (5.33).
• Makiah Asidanya is pacing the league, being 100 percent at the free-throw line. The sophomore is also leading the conference at 66.7 percent from behind the arc. 
• Asidanya leads the team in scoring with 41 points across through three games.
• Gamble stands out at the three-point line with seven on the season.
• Cain, Gamble and Rakotobe are the best rebounders on the team with 16 boards apiece.
• The Spartans went 21-12 overall and 8-6 in league play during the 2023-24 season.
• UNCG appeared in the SoCon Championship for the seventh time in program history last season, falling to Chattanooga, 69-60.
• The 2024-25 roster features 10 returners and five newcomers with three transfers and two freshmen.
• Three of last year's starters have returned this season in Cain, Gamble and Nia Howard.
• Head Coach Trina Patterson is in her ninth season at the helm of the Blue & Gold.
• Patterson tallied her third season achieving 20 or more wins last year, leading UNCG to finish second in the regular season.
• The Spartans were picked to finish second in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• Cain and Gamble were selected to the SoCon Preseason All-SoCon Team. 

SCOUTING APP STATE

• The Mountaineers will shake off a 10-day break as the team comes to Greensboro with a 1-1 overall mark on the 2024-25 season.
• App State opened its schedule at Miami (OH), falling 48-75 in Oxford.
• The Mountaineers returned home to host Columbia College, taking the dominating home opener, 97-43, in Boone on Nov. 6.
• Through two games, App State is leading the Sun Belt with a 35.5 blocks per game average and a 32.3 field-goal percentage defense.
• Mara Neira is leading the team in scoring with 27 points, 10 field goals and seven three-pointers.
• Zada Porter stands out with 12 boards this season.
• Asjah Inniss is the best passer on the team with seven dimes.
• Emily Carver paces the squad with five steals.
• The Mountaineers were picked to finish 11^th in the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Carver was tabbed to the 2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team.
• App State has returned five from the 2023-24 season in Carver, Porter, J'Mani Ingram, Samantha LaFon and Rylan Moffitt.
• Joining the Mountaineers for the 2024-25 season is true freshman Hekla Nökkvadóttir, as well as transfers Neira, Inniss, Emily Hege, Elena Pericic, Seneva Martinez, Elevana Tafisi, Georgia Gray and Zoe McCrary.
• The Mountaineers concluded the 2023-24 season 17-15 overall and 9-9 in the Sun Belt.

 
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR 
Click here for your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!
 
UNCG Women's Basketball Ticket Information 
To secure your tickets for UNCG women's basketball home games click HERE for options including single games, group discounts and full season ticket options.  All 14 home games will be played on campus in Fleming Gymnasium. UNCG faculty/staff and students are free with their ID. To learn more about upcoming ticket promotions or to purchase over the phone call the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250. 

UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue at home by hosting UNC Asheville on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in Fleming Gym.
 
Tuesday's game will be education day, where Fleming Gym will welcome in Guilford County Schools for the contest.