GREENSBORO, N.C.  – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers, 68-55, in Fleming Gym Saturday in a non-conference contest.
 
Freshman Nya Smith led the game with a career-high 21 points, going 8-for-13 in field goals and 4-for-6 from behind the arc. With 16 points from Jayde Gamble and 11 from Jaila Lee, three Spartans finished in double figures.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
A jumper from Lee at 9:45 put UNCG on the board first against the Mountaineers. Later with the Spartans on top, 6-4, the Mountaineers notched five points to take the 9-6 lead. App State continued to hold the lead for the remainder of the first half. A layup from Makiah Asidanya closed out the first frame with the Mountaineers still on top, 22-12.
 
The Spartans came out of the huddle to outscore the Mountaineers, 19-13, in the second quarter. A big part of that scoring came from Smith who scored three buckets from downtown and Gamble who knocked down the buzzer-beating three to cut UNCG's deficit to four at the half, 35-31.

UNCG continued its momentum coming out of the break, besting App State, 17-5, in the third stanza. The Spartans started the third quarter by recording 17 unanswered points, keeping the Mountaineers from scoring until 3:56. One free throw from both sides closed out the third quarter with UNCG on top, 49-40.
 
The Spartans controlled the rest of the game, starting off the final frame with back-to-back layups from Nia Howard. Three-pointers from Smith and Gamble secured UNCG its biggest lead of the game at 15 points, 65-50, at 2:58 remaining. Saturday's contest was concluded with a free throw from Gamble to secure the 68-55 victory for the Spartans.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Gamble paced the game with five steals and added a career-high seven assists.
• Khalis Cain led the game with a season high of 10 rebounds.
• Asidanya notched a career-best three steals.
• UNCG bested App State in points off turnovers (23-7), fast-break points (9-4) and bench points (23-13).

RECORDS
UNCG: 3-1
App State: 1-2
 
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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.