GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team extended its win streak to nine after defeating the Catamounts of Western Carolina, 57-53, on Saturday afternoon in Fleming Gymnasium to secure The 2024-25 Southern Conference (SoCon) Regular Season Title.  

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.
 
With today's win, the Spartans have also concluded the 2024-25 season undefeated at home at 14-0. This is the second time in program history that UNCG has went undefeated at home and first time in the Division I era. The Spartans went 10-0 at home back in the 1987-88 regular season.

Head Coach Trina Patterson has now tallied her fourth season at UNCG achieving 20 or more wins, as the team now stands at 20-6 overall. It is Patterson's second time at the helm of the Blue & Gold to achieve a part of the SoCon Regular Season Title and first time earning it outright.

In addition, UNCG is off to its best start in SoCon play since the 2001-02 season. That team also started off conference action 11-1 and finished the regular season 14-4.
The last time the Spartans tallied a nine-game win streak was in the 2019-20 season.

Nya Smith and Makiah Asidanya led the Spartans in double-figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both team's traded baskets before UNCG notched a 7-2 run to secure a 9-4 lead over the Catamounts at 3:08. Western Carolina's Tyja Beans chipped in a free throw before Nia Howard posted the final basket of the quarter to give UNCG a 11-5 lead heading to the bench.

Tasia Johnson got the scoring started in the second frame with a three-pointer and free throw for a 15-5 advantage. The Catamounts bounced back with an 8-0 run, cutting their deficit to two, 15-13. At 5:02, Asidanya secured the offensive board and second chance layup to put the Spartans up by four, 17-13. Western Carolina responded with five-straight points to take the one-point lead, 18-17. A triple from Asidanya at 1:45 gave UNCG a 23-20 lead before Chelsea Wooten cut the margin to one, 23-22, with a buzzer-beating jumper going to the locker room.

Western Carolina came out of the locker room to record a 5-0 run over the Spartans for a 27-23 lead. Although the score tied on a couple occasions in the third quarter, the Catamounts kept UNCG from taking the lead in the stanza.

A couple of free throws Khalis Cain and a three-pointer from Smith started out the fourth quarter to tie the game at 48-48. For the next 5:36, both teams stayed scoreless. Another triple from Smith at 4:11 secured the Spartans with a 51-48 lead. The Spartans were able to hold the close advantage for the reminder of the game. Three more free throws from the Spartans closed out the game to give UNCG the 57-53 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Cain led the game with 10 rebounds and added six points.
• Smith led the team from downtown with three triples.
• Asidanya and Jayde Gamble recorded two steals apiece.
• Jaila Lee chipped in eight points.
• Western Carolina bested UNCG in points in the paint (28-16) and fast break points (6-2).
• The Spartans led the way in points off turnovers (17-10), second chance points (25-7), bench points (30-9), rebounds (36-29) and steals (7-5).

RECORDS
UNCG: 20-6, 11-1 SoCon
Western Carolina: 12-15, 2-10 SoCon
 
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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 conclude the 2024-25 regular season schedule next week by taking on Samford on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CST in Birmingham Alabama, and Mercer on Saturday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. in Macon, Georgia.