GREENSBORO, N.C.  – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team never trailed in a 70-37 victory over Mercer on Thursday night in Fleming Gymnasium.
 
Three Spartans registered double-figures in the contest with Nya Smith leading the team with 13 points. Jaila Lee and Khalis Cain followed closely behind with 10 points apiece.
 
Cain registered her fourth double-double of the season and 19^th of her career after notching a career-best 17 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tasia Johnson drained a three-pointer at 9:35 to give UNCG the 3-0 advantage. Mercer's Nahaw Diarra put the Bears on the board with a layup on the other end before the Spartans responded with six unanswered points, 9-2, to never allow Mercer to lead in the game. The Bears were able to piece together four consecutive points to close out the first frame, but UNCG held the 22-14 advantage.
 
Both teams stayed scoreless for the first 3:55 of the second quarter until Lee's driving layup at 6:05 sparked 11-straight points for UNCG. Mercer's Kayla Smith secured a three-point play at 2:40 for the visiting team's only points of the stanza. A jumper from Nia Howard with four seconds remaining gave UNCG the 35-17 lead heading to the break.
 
UNCG continued its momentum coming out of the intermission to outscore Mercer, 16-7, in the third frame. Smith tallied UNCG's last seven points in the quarter for the 51-24 lead going to the bench.
 
The final quarter was the closest in margin, but UNCG was still able to best Mercer, 19-13. With 34 seconds remaining, a jumper from Kelly Boyle followed by two points Mercer's Talia Harris concluded the final minute in the 70-37 no-doubt victory for the Spartans.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Jayde Gamble and Makiah Asidanya led the Spartans with two steals apiece.
• Asidanya led the contest with five dimes.
• Lee paced the game with two blocks.
• UNCG outrebounded Mercer, 50-21.
• UNCG won the battle in points in the paint (36-16), points off turnovers (26-8), second chance points (19-5), fast break points (6-2) and bench points (33-1).

RECORDS
UNCG: 14-6, 5-1 SoCon
Mercer: 6-15, 1-5 SoCon
 
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR 
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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 close out the week with Samford on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.

In Saturday's game against the Bulldogs, Fleming Gymnasium will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day! Girls ages 5-16 are encouraged to join the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department and UNCG Center for Women's Health and Wellness to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day of Play on Feb. 1 at the UNCG Middle College Gymnasium. Participants 12 and under receive free admission to the game. Click here for more information on the event.