ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The No.1 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team defeated No. 2 Chattanooga, 64-57, to claim The Southern Conference (SoCon) Championship Title at Harrah's Cherokee Center on Sunday.

With today's title win, it marks the second time in UNCG program history and first time under Head Coach Trina Patterson that the Spartans have earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament. The last time UNCG earned a spot in the tournament was in 1998 with a 75-68 win over Georgia Southern in the SoCon Championship.
 
In addition, UNCG improves its winning streak to 14 for the first time in the Division I era. Coach Patterson also increases her winningest season with 25 victories currently on the 2024-25 campaign.
 
Khalis Cain registered her 10th double-double of the season and 25th of her career after leading the game with a new career-best 20 points and notching 12 rebounds. In addition, she reached the 1,000-career points milestone with her 20 points in the game. She also paced the game with five blocks.
 
Jayde Gamble followed closely behind with 12 points and Nya Smith rounded out the double-figure scoring for the Spartans with 10 points.

Cain was named to the SoCon All-Tournament First Team and named MVP of the tournament. Gamble was selected to the SoCon All-Tournament Second Team after both of their stellar performances in the conference tournament. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
A triple from Tasia Johnson at 8:49 got the scoring started in the contest, propelling UNCG to an 8-0 run over the Mocs to begin the game, never allowing Chattanooga to lead in the first quarter. Chattanooga bounced back with six-straight points to cut the deficit to two, 8-6. However, Cain put UNCG back up by four with a reverse layup at 3:18, 10-6. Gamble secured the final bucket of the first quarter with a jumper to grant UNCG with a 16-8 lead going to the break.
 
Cain tallied the first points of the second quarter with a second-chance layup at 9:35 for a 10-point lead, 18-8. Both teams traded baskets before Chattanooga tallied a 7-0 run to bring the Mocs back within three, 20-17. Three-pointers from Smith and Makiah Asidanya gave UNCG the nine-point advantage at 4:00, 26-17. Chattanooga secured the final four points of the first half to make it 26-21 UNCG heading to the locker room.
 
Chattanooga turned on the momentum in the second half to start things out with a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the game, 28-26. At 2:29, UNCG recorded four-straight points to tie the game, 34-34. Chattanooga's Gianna Corbitt went 2-for-2 at the free throw line to give the Mocs a 36-34 lead at the end of the third frame.
 
The Mocs continued strong to start the fourth quarter by starting things off with a 4-0 run for the 40-34 advantage. Asidanya went 1-for-2 at the charity stripe before Gamble launched a three-pointer at 8:12 to bring UNCG back within two, 40-38. The final frame continued to go back-and-forth with Chattanooga holding the slight lead. With Chattanooga on top 49-46, a three-pointer from Asidanya at 2:05 tied the game at 49-49 before Khalis Cain recorded a layup at 1:08 to give UNCG a 51-49 lead. Chattanooga's Karsen Murphy gave the Mocs the one-point lead again with a three-pointer with 48 seconds remaining, 52-51. Cain went 1-for-2 at the free throw line to tie the game once again, 52-52. Heavy defense on both ends of the floor kept the game tied to send the contest into overtime.
 
After Chattanooga's Gianna Corbitt knocked down two free throws to start overtime play, UNCG posted an 8-0 run to take a 64-50 lead and hold the advantage the remainder of the game. Corbitt launched a three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to pull the Mocs back within three, but Gamble and Smith collected two free throws apiece to secure the 64-57 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Gamble led the Spartans with three assists.
• Asidanya chipped in nine points.
• Seven different Spartans scored in the game.
• UNCG bested Chattanooga in rebounds (45-38), second chance points (15-4), bench points (19-0), fast break points (5-2) and blocks (10-3).
• Chattanooga held the advantage in points off turnovers (12-2), points in the paint (28-20), steals (5-3) and assists (12-10).

RECORDS
UNCG: 25-6, 13-1 SoCon
Chattanooga: 16-14, 9-5 SoCon

PURCHASE UNCG GEAR 
Click here for your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!

UP NEXT
The Spartans will learn their fate in the 2025 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament during Selection Sunday on Sunday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m.
 

Gallery: (3-9-2025) WBB vs. Chattanooga (SoCon Championship)