GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro had two players in doubles figures, with senior Jasmine Byrd leading the way with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor, as the Spartans defeated Georgia Southern 80-55 in Fleming Gymnasium on Monday night.
KaLeah Latham had a game-high eight rebounds, while Brittany Frazier and Ashley Ling both had career nights. Frazier posted a career-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting and Ling dished out a career-high five assists.
“This was an important game for us,” head coach Lynne Agee said. “We knew it was going to be a tough physical game going in and it was from start to finish. I’m proud of the way that we handled their pressure. Jasmine Byrd had another big night for us and Brittany Frazier provided a terrific spark off of the bench.”
Georgia Southern was led by Tiffany Brown, who scored 15 points. Chequilla Jessie and Ashley Melson added seven rebounds each.
Georgia Southern (7-9, 2-3) opened the second half on a tear scoring the half’s first four-points to bring the UNCG lead to 41-32 in the early goings but Byrd was able to get the Spartans back into their rhythm hitting a three-pointer through the right side, extending the lead to 44-32.
The Spartans' stifling defense was able to force back-to-back Georgia Southern turnovers but couldn’t convert on the other end, instead giving the ball right back to the Eagles who were able to hit several big shots cutting the lead to 49-39 with just under 15 minutes to play in the half.
UNCG (10-5, 3-2) got right back in the game going on a 6-2 run and holding the Eagles to one field goal over the next three minutes. Georgia Southern tried to pull the game close with several quick baskets but a 12-3 run in the games final five minutes sealed the victory as the Spartans picked up their fourth consecutive victory.
The Spartans shot 47.5 percent from the floor on 29-of-61 shooting from the floor and picked up 47 rebounds.
UNCG started the game fast, opening up with a 13-2 run in the games first four minutes. Byrd led the charge connecting on two three-pointers early in the game. The Spartan defense continued to trouble Georgia Southern, forcing the Eagles into five turnovers through the first eight minutes.
The Eagles continued to go cold from the floor, but finally got their first field goal at the 12:34 mark. UNCG responded by going on an 8-2 run over the next four minutes to extend their lead to 28-11 at the 7:45 mark.
Georgia Southern was able to cut the UNCG lead to 10-points with just under three minutes remaining but and got as close as 36-28 in the second half but the Spartans went on a 5-0 run to close the half and took a 41-28 lead into the lockeroom.
UNCG shot 46.9 percent from the floor in the first half on 15-of-32 shooting, their best first half shooting percentage since playing Longwood at the UNCG Thanksgiving Classic.
The Spartans head to the Greensboro Coliseum to take on ACC rival Virginia Tech, Jan. 10. The game is part of doubleheader with the UNCG men’s team, who are taking on Virginia Tech in the later game. Tip-off is set for 5 pm.
AGATE
UNCG 80, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 55
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (7-9, 2-3)
BROWN, Tiffany 6-13 2-2--15; JESSIE, Chequilla 5-14 4-5--14;
MELSON, Ashley 2-7 2-2--7; WHITNEY, Carolyn 2-12 2-2--6; WATERMAN,
Christa 2-4 2-2--6; GEIGER, Jessica 1-1 0-0--3; HENRY, Concella 1-2
0-0--2; OGBURN, J'Lisia 1-2 0-0--2; RIVENS, Ashley 0-6 0-3--0;
WHITNEY, Elise 0-0 0-0--0. Totals 20-61 12-16 55.
UNCG (10-5, 3-2)
Byrd, Jasmine 8-16 3-4--25; Frazier, Brittany 5-9 5-6--15;
Grimsley, Gini 4-4 0---0 9; Otamiri, Irene 4-9 0-0--9; Latham,
Kaleah 2-4 2-5--7; Boone, Kristen 3-7 1-2--7; Chamberlain, Meghan
2-7 0-0--4; Dixon, Jasmine 1-4 0-1--2; Brooks, Kemena 0-1 2-2--2;
Ling, Ashley 0-0 0-0--0; Hyson, Lakiah 0-0 0-0--0. Totals 29-61
13-20 80.
Halftime: UNCG 39-28 3-point goals--Georgia Southern 3-20 (GEIGER, Jessica 1-1; MELSON, Ashley 1-3; BROWN, Tiffany 1-3; RIVENS, Ashley 0-6; WHITNEY, Carolyn 0-6; JESSIE, Chequilla 0-1), UNCG 9-14 (Byrd, Jasmine 6-9; Otamiri, Irene 1-3; Grimsley, Gini 1-1; Latham, Kaleah 1-1). Fouled out--Georgia Southern-None, UNCG-None.Rebounds--Georgia Southern 31 (JESSIE, Chequilla 7; MELSON, Ashley 7), UNCG 47 (Chamberlain, Meghan 8). Assists--Georgia Southern 9 (WHITNEY, Carolyn 5), UNCG 22 (Otamiri, Irene 6). Total fouls--Georgia Southern 18, UNCG 17.Technical fouls--Georgia Southern-None, UNCG-Dixon, Jasmine. A-180 6:22 (2nd half) - Tiffany Brown (GSU) ejected for flagrant foul
- UNCG -