JOHNSON CITY, TENN. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team never backed down in a 61-56 overtime victory over the Bucs of ETSU in The Southern Conference (SoCon) action on Saturday afternoon in Johnson City, Tennessee, at Freedom Hall.
 
With today's overtime win and Furman's 93-88 double-overtime win over Wofford, UNCG now stands in first place in the SoCon standings with an 8-1 mark.

Four Spartans tallied double-figures in the game. Nya Smith led the Spartans with 18 points. Jayde Gamble followed closely behind with 16 points. Khalis Cain and Makiah Asidanya chipped in for 14 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Cain posted her sixth double-double of the season and 21^st of her career with her 14 points and leading with a career-best 18 rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
With UNCG being first nationally in scoring defense and ETSU being 23^rd, both teams stayed scoreless for the first 2:41 of Saturday's contest. The first buckets of the game came at the charity stripe for ETSU to get on the board first, 2-0. Gamble responded with two points in the paint on the other end, 2-2. The first frame continued to go back-and-forth. Jailah Clark-Jones launched a corner three at 1:48, giving UNCG the 9-8 advantage just before the Bucs closed out the stanza with four-straight points for a 12-9 lead heading to the break.
 
A free throw from Gamble followed by a three-pointer by Jaila Lee gave UNCG a 13-12 lead to start the second quarter. ETSU bounced back with two consecutive three-pointers for a 18-13 lead. A 7-3 run from Smith and Asidanya going 2-for-2 at the free throw line, secured UNCG the 22-21 lead with 50 seconds remaining in the half.  ETSU's Meghan Downing gave the Bucs the one-point lead, 23-22, heading to the locker room.
 
The third frame continued to be a defensive battle with 11 of the 15 points scored in the quarter coming at the free throw line. Gamble concluded the scoring, going 2-for-2 at the free throw line at 1:37 to tie the game at 31 apiece heading to the bench.
 
The fourth quarter came down to the wire. Gamble's 10 points alone in the stanza kept the Spartans in the game. With ETSU on top, 45-40 at 3:24, the Spartans notched a 9-2 run to take the 49-47 lead over the Bucs. ETSU tallied one free throw before Gamble went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe for UNCG to hold the one possession game, 51-48. ETSU's Courtney Moore launched a buzzer-beater three-pointer to send the game into overtime.
 
The Bucs tallied five consecutive points to start off overtime. However, UNCG responded with a 10-0 on run secure the 61-56 win over ETSU.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Cain's 18 rebounds marked her eighth game this season with double-digit boards.
• Cain also led the team with four blocks.
• Smith added a career-high seven boards.
• Lee led the Spartans with three dimes.
• Smith went 4-for-8 from behind the arc.
• UNCG outrebounded ETSU, 42-36.
• The Spartans bested the Bucs in second chance points (13-7), fast break points (8-2) and bench points (10-3),

RECORDS
UNCG: 17-6, 8-1 SoCon
ETSU: 14-10, 5-4 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 return home to host Furman on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:00 p.m. and Wofford on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2:00 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.

Thursday's game will be City of Greensboro Night! City workers receive the discounted ticket rate of $5 with valid worker ID! It will also be Professor Appreciation Night!

Saturday's game will feature a Black History Month Celebration, Scout Day and Alumni Night!