GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team will begin round two of The Southern Conference (SoCon) campaign this week by traveling to Chattanooga on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and ETSU on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
 

 
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans went 2-0 at home last week after defeating Mercer, 70-37, on Thursday and Samford, 78-66, on Saturday.
• Four Spartans recorded double-figures in Saturday's game against the Bulldogs. 
• Nya Smith led the squad with a new career-best 22 points, while Khalis Cain and Jayde Gamble chipped in for 14 points apiece. 
• Makiah Asidanya added 10 points in the contest.
• Cain registered her third consecutive double-double, fifth of the season and 20^th of her career with her 14 points and 12 rebounds.
• Saturday's double-figure scorers marked the fifth game this season where at least four Spartans have reached double-digits.
• Smith registered a new career-high of five made three-pointers.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• UNCG is 15-6 overall and 6-1 in the SoCon, sitting in a tie for first place with Wofford in the SoCon standings.
• UNCG is off to its best start in SoCon play since the 2001-02 season. That team started off conference action 11-1 and finished the regular season 14-4.
• The Spartans are undefeated at home with an 11-0 mark in Fleming Gym.
• UNCG is on a 15-game winning streak at home and is 26-1 over the past two seasons for the best home record in the SoCon.
• The Spartans are leading the nation with a 51.9 scoring defense.
• The Blue & Gold are leading the SoCon in seven categories: bench points per game (28.0), scoring defense (51.9), scoring margin (14.9), steals per game (10.2), turnover margin (4.24) and turnovers forced per game (19.00).
• The team is in the top-50 nationally in six categories: scoring defense (1^st/51.9), bench points per game (16^th/28.0), fouls per game (40^th/14.4), rebound margin (41^st/6.3), scoring margin (45^th/14.9) and turnover margin (47^th/4.24).  
• UNCG is besting its opponents across several categories: points (1401-1089), field goals (503-399), three-pointers (130-96), free throws (265-195), rebounds (762-630), assists (235-212), points off turnovers (19.4-11.1) and steals (214-130).
• Cain is leading the SoCon and is 18^th in the country with a 4.1 offensive rebounds per game average. She leads the Spartans defensively with 157 boards and 18 blocks.
• Gamble is second in the league with 50 steals and third with a 2.38 steals per game average.
• Gamble paces the team with 260 points, 101 field goals, 60 assists and 50 steals.
• Jaila Lee paces the squad at the charity stripe with 61 made free throws and a 73.5 free throw percentage.
• Smith stands out from behind the arc with 33 three-pointers.
• Cain earned her second SoCon Player of the Week of her career (Jan.28) after registering a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a 66-58 win over Western Carolina (Jan.25). 
• Smith was named the SoCon Player of the Week (Dec. 24) after leading the Spartans with 19 points and five boards at Wake Forest (Dec. 20). 
• After leading the team's game against Carolina University with 10 rebounds, Cain surpassed 1,000 rebounds in her collegiate career. She is the third player in program history to reach the 1,000 career rebounds milestone and leads the Division I era in total rebounds.
• Cain is the all-time leading blocker in UNCG program history with 170 in her career.
• Gamble tallied her 1,000^th career point at the free throw line at 1:29 in the fourth quarter in the team's game against ETSU on Jan. 9 in Greensboro. 659 of those points came at UNCG, while 341 were achieved in her first two seasons at UNC Wilmington.
• The Spartans went 21-12 overall and 8-6 in league play during the 2023-24 season.
• UNCG appeared in the SoCon Championship for the seventh time in program history last season, falling to Chattanooga, 69-60.
• The 2024-25 roster features 10 returners and five newcomers with three transfers and two freshmen.
• Three of last year's starters have returned this season in Cain, Gamble and Nia Howard.
• Head Coach Trina Patterson is in her ninth season at the helm of the Blue & Gold.
• Patterson tallied her third season achieving 20 or more wins last year, leading UNCG to finish second in the regular season.
• The Spartans were picked to finish second in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• Cain and Gamble were selected to the SoCon Preseason All-SoCon Team. 

SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA

• The Mocs come into Thursday's contest with a 10-10 overall record and 5-2 mark in SoCon play.
• Chattanooga went 1-1 last week after falling to Wofford, 57-54, on Thursday in Spartanburg, but earning a 68-60 win over Furman in Greenville on Saturday.
• Chattanooga stands out at 24^th in the country and third in the SoCon with a 56.0 scoring defense.
• Sigrun Olafsdottir paces the league with a 2.07 assist/turnover ratio. She is second with a 2.40 steals per game average.
• Caia Elisaldez is second in the conference with a 4.6 assists per game average.
• Elisaldez leads the Mocs with 235 points, 93 field goals, 41 free throws and 87 assists.
• Olafsdottir and Karsen Murphy lead the team from downtown with 33 three-pointers apiece.
• Gianna Corbitt stands out defensively with 136 boards and 16 blocks.
• Elisaldez was named SoCon Player of the Week on Nov. 26 after averaging 16 points and 5.5 assists per game as the Mocs went 2-0 the week of Nov. 19-25.
• Kalifa Ford and Olafsdottir were both selected to the 2024-25 Preseason All-SoCon Team. 
• Chattanooga was picked to finish sixth in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll and the team currently sits in third place in the SoCon standings, just behind UNCG and Wofford.
• Deandra Schirmer is in her first season as the head coach for the Mocs.
• The Mocs will close out their week by hosting Western Carolina on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in McKenzie Arena.

SERIES HISTORY VS CHATTANOOGA
Chattanooga leads in the overall series against UNCG at 51-15. UNCG took the first matchup with Chattanooga this season in a 62-48 victory in Fleming Gymnasium. Chattanooga and UNCG traded off victories in the 2023-24 regular season with the Mocs defeating the Spartans, 73-55, in Greensboro on Jan. 25, but UNCG handed Chattanooga its only conference loss of last season, 68-64, on Feb. 24 in Chattanooga. The two teams met for the final time last season in the 2023-24 SoCon Championship when Chattanooga defeated UNCG, 69-60, in Asheville, North Carolina.
 
SCOUTING ETSU

• ETSU currently stands at 13-9 overall and 4-3 in the SoCon.
• The Bucs went 2-0 last week after taking down Furman, 72-62, in Greenville on Thursday and upsetting Wofford, 63-50, on Saturday.
• The Bucs' win over the Terriers handed Wofford its first conference loss of the season and snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Terriers. In addition, it allowed UNCG to be tied with Wofford for first place in the SoCon standings.
• ETSU is pacing the SoCon in blocks per game (3.1), fouls per game (14.3) and opponent turnovers per game (14.3).
• The Bucs stand out in the top-50 nationally among five categories: scoring defense (20^th/55.0, three-point percentage defense (22^nd/26.1) fouls per game (34^th/14.3), field goal percentage defense (37^th/37.1) and turnover margin (48^th/4.23)
• Meghan Downing is leading the SoCon with 44 blocks and a 2.00 blocks per game average. Her 44 blocks puts her at 22^nd in the country, while her 2.00 blocks per game average places her at 29^th nationally.
• Courtney Moore is second in the league with a 36.3 three-point percentage and a 2.05 three-pointers per game average.
• Moore leads the Bucs with 240 points, 41 three-pointers, 47 free throws and 32 steals.
• Braylyn Milton stands out in the field with 77 field goals.  
• Downing leads ETSU defensively with 160 rebounds and 44 blocks.
• Kendall Folley is the best passer on the team with 54 dimes.
• Folley was tabbed to the 2024-25 Preseason All-SoCon Team. 
• ETSU was picked to finish fifth in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll and currently sits at fourth place, just behind Chattanooga.
• Brenda Mock Brown is in her third season with the Bucs and led the team to a 18-12 overall record and 7-7 mark in conference play last season.

SERIES HISTORY VS ETSU
The Spartans hold the slight edge over the Bucs in the overall meetings at 23-22. UNCG claimed the first meeting against ETSU earlier this season in a 64-43 victory in Fleming Gymnasium on Jan. 9. UNCG went 1-1 against ETSU last season defeating the team at home, 54-50, on Jan. 27 but falling in Johnson City, 54-51, on Feb. 22.

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UNCG Women's Basketball Home 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!