WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.  – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team dropped a back-and-forth contest with Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foe Wake Forest, 54-50, on Friday afternoon at LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
 
Nya Smith and Jayde Gamble led the game in scoring with 19 and 17 points, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Good defense on both ends of the court kept the Spartans and Demon Deacons from scoring in the first two minutes of Friday's contest. Jaila Lee tallied the first points of the day with a layup at 8:00 to put UNCG up 2-0. The Spartans continued to maintain the advantage until the Deacs posted a 9-0 run to earn a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Wake Forest's Kennedy Moore scored first in the second quarter before a layup from Lee and a jumper from Gamble cut UNCG's deficit to two, 14-12. The Demon Deacons responded with seven consecutive points for the 21-12 lead. However, a jumper from Lee at 4:41 began an 8-3 run for the Spartans to come back within four, 24-20. Both teams tallied two more points apiece before heading to the locker room with Wake Forest holding the 26-22 lead.
 
Coming out of the break, the Spartans notched a 6-2 run to tie the game at 28. The Spartans scored five consecutive free throws which gave them their first lead since the first quarter, 33-30  Wake Forest bounced back with an 8-2 run, but Kelly Boyle chipped in a free throw to allow UNCG to only trail by two at the end of the third frame, 38-36.
 
After Rylie Theuerkauf extended Wake Forest's lead to four, 40-36, UNCG posted a 4-0 run to tie the game at 40 with 8:17 remaining. The Deacs were able to continue their lead by posting an 8-0 run for the 48-40 advantage. Both teams scored a layup before UNCG recorded five consecutive points to pull back within three, 50-47. After a couple free throws from Theuerkauf and a 30-second timeout, Smith launched the squad's first three of the game to make it a two-point game. However, Wake Forest was able to add two more points at the charity stripe to come away with the 54-50 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Lee followed behind Smith and Gamble in scoring with eight points.
• Friday's game marked Gamble's ninth game scoring double digits this season and Smith's sixth.
• Smith and Gamble went a perfect 4-for-4 and 3-for-3 at the free throw line, respectively.
• Smith also led the game with five rebounds.
• Gamble, Lee and Khalis Cain followed closely behind with four rebounds.
• Cain and Yacine N'Diaye recorded two blocks apiece.
• Gamble led the Spartans with three steals.  
• UNCG bested Wake Forest in points in the paint (30-16), fast break points (6-2), rebounds (36-31) and steals (9-8).

RECORDS
UNCG: 7-5
Wake Forest: 7-5, 0-1 ACC
 
PURCHASE UNCG GEAR 
UNCGgear.com is your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone! 

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 to Fleming Gym for a four-game home stretch starting with Greensboro College on Tuesday, Dec. 31 for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off. Tuesday's game against the Pride will be free admission.