GREENSBORO, N.C.  – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team's dominating fourth quarter run propelled the squad past ETSU, 64-43 on Thursday night to begin The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule in Fleming Gymnasium.
 
With her 14 points tonight, Jayde Gamble tallied her 1,000^th career point coming at the free throw line at 1:29 in the fourth quarter. 659 of those points came at UNCG, while 341 were achieved in her first two seasons at UNC Wilmington.
 
Gamble and Khalis Cain led the game with 14 points apiece. Nya Smith and Jaila Lee followed closely behind with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Thursday's win marks the third-straight year that UNCG has won its conference opener.

HOW IT HAPPENED
A defensive battle kept the game scoreless for the first 2:41 until Lee recorded the first bucket of the game with a driving layup at 7:19 for the 2-0 lead. Both teams swapped two points before trading two three-pointers apiece to tie the game at 10. The first quarter was completed with a 12-12 tie after Cain and ETSU's Courtney Moore exchanged free throws.
 
ETSU struck first in the second quarter for the 14-12 lead, while Kelly Boyle responded with a three-point play for the 15-14 advantage. UNCG kept ETSU from taking the lead until the Bucs notched four consecutive points for the 19-18 lead. Both teams went back-and-forth until ETSU posted a 9-2 run to close out the second frame on top, 30-24.
 
Coming out of the intermission, the third quarter was mostly a battle at the charity stripe featuring 10 total fouls. ETSU continued to maintain the advantage, but Cain dropped in a second chance layup to bring the Spartans back within two to close out the third quarter, 40-38.
 
UNCG came out of the huddle to outscore ETSU 26-3 in the final stanza. Both teams scored two points apiece before a three-pointer from Gamble at 8:14 began a 24-1 run for the Spartans to walk away comfortably with the 64-43 win.  

BY THE NUMBERS

• Cain led the game with nine rebounds and four blocks.
• Gamble followed closely behind with seven boards.
• Six Spartans recorded a steal.
• UNCG bested ETSU in points in the paint (26-16), points off turnovers (9-8), fast break points (9-0), second chance points (16-5) and bench points (22-7).
• The Spartans outrebounded the Bucs, 40-29.

RECORDS
UNCG: 10-5, 1-0 SoCon
ETSU: 9-7, 0-1 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 continue their SoCon slate at home by hosting Chattanooga on Saturday, Jan. 11 in Fleming Gymnasium. For Saturday night's game, kids receive free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket!