ATHENS, Ga.  – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team fell in a competitive battle with Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe Georgia, 59-52, on Monday in Athens, Georgia, at Stegeman Coliseum.
 
Jaila Lee and Nya Smith paced the Spartans with 11 points apiece. Smith and Tasia Johnson led the Spartans from behind the arc with three three-pointers apiece.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Georgia's Trinity Turner scored the first points of the contest with a jumper at 9:21. Johnson got the Spartans on the board with a three-pointer for a 3-2 lead at 8:56. The Bulldogs responded with a three-pointer on the other end before Johnson launched another one from downtown for the 6-5 advantage. Both teams went back-and-forth until the end of the frame when a jumper from Yacine N'Diaye and layup from Smith gave the Spartans the 15-12 lead at the end of the first frame.

The Spartans utilized a 60 percent field goal percentage in the second quarter to maintain the lead for the remainder of the first half. A three-pointer from Smith proceeding a jumper from Jayde Gamble gave UNCG its biggest lead of the first half at 6:24 for an eight-point gap, 25-17. Four-straight points from the Bulldogs closed out the first quarter, but UNCG stayed on top, 29-26, heading to the locker room.
 
The Spartans returned to the court to drop six consecutive points for a nine-point advantage over the Bulldogs, 35-26. UNCG held the lead until Georgia posted an 11-1 run to take its first lead since the first quarter with 49 seconds remaining in the third stanza. Smith chipped in another three before the Bulldogs' De'Mauri Flournoy closed out the third quarter with a three-pointer on their end for a 45-43 lead heading to the break.
 
The Bulldogs continued their momentum into the final frame, outscoring the Spartans 14-9. Georgia started off the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups before a three-pointer from Smith and free throws from Lee brought the squad back within one, 49-48. The Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the game after recording a 12-2 run for the 59-50 lead. Makiah Asidanya added two more points at the charity stripe, but Georgia was able to walk away with the 59-52 win.
 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Johnson chipped in nine points and three three-pointers for her best as a Spartan.
• N'Diaye recorded a career-best three field goals.
• Khalis Cain led the game with eight boards.
• Gamble led the Spartans with five dimes.
• UNCG bested Georgia in second chance points, 6-4.
• Five different Spartans recorded a steal.

 
RECORDS
UNCG: 7-4
Georgia: 6-5
 
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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 on the road by facing Triad foe Wake Forest on Friday, Dec. 20 at 3:00 p.m. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at LJVM Coliseum.