COLLEGE PARK, MD – UNC Greensboro head coach Lynne Agee picked up her 500th win as Spartan head coach as UNCG defeated Liberty, 67-59 in the consolation game of the Terrapin Classic on Saturday afternoon.
UNCG (7-5) was led by senior guard Jasmine Byrd who had 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor and KaLeah Latham who had a career-high 14 rebounds. Kristen Boone also tied a season high dishing out six assists while Kemena Brooks tied a season-high, with nine points.
Liberty (6-7) was led by Moriah and Megan Frazee, who had 17 and 15 points, respectively.
“We played much better in the second half today”, head coach Lynne Agee said. “We had lots of fouls in the first half but we were able to regroup in the second half. The job that we did on the boards in the second half was great, which was key considering that they had a size advantage on us.”
UNCG opened the second half with a 6-0 run sparked by two jumpers and free throws by Meghan Chamberlain to take a 39-36 lead. Liberty scored their first basket of the game nearly six minutes into the half to cut UNCG’s lead to 42-38 but the Spartans defense responded with a steal by Boone and 11-2 run to extend their lead to 52-40 at the 12:38 mark, the largest lead of the game.
Liberty was able to get as close as two points by converting at the free throw line but UNCG clamped down on the defensive end and was able to pull out the win snapping their two-game losing streak.
UNCG started the game quickly, with Byrd hitting a three on the opening possession for the second consecutive game. The Spartans opened with a 15-4 run behind three-pointers from Byrd and Latham, but Liberty was able to get themselves a little momentum by hitting a three coming out of a media timeout and adding a bucket in the paint to cut the Spartan lead to four with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half.
Liberty hit three unanswered buckets to cut the lead to two before Irene Otamiri hit a three-pointer through the left side to extend the lead to five at the 10:40 mark. Both teams went cold from the floor over the next two minutes but Brooks got the Spartans over the hump with a layup. Liberty responded with a 13-4 run over the next three minutes to take a one point lead.
Byrd hit three consecutive jumpers to push the UNCG lead to 31-26 at the 3:40 mark but Liberty was able to capitalize on UNCG turnovers and fouls, going on an 8-2 run in the last two minutes to take a 36-33 led into the lockeroom.
UNCG shot 33.3 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Liberty 27-22 in the first half.
The Spartans will continue their three-game road swing when they take on SoCon rival Chattanooga, Tuesday Jan. 3 at 7 pm at McKenzie Arena.
AGATE
UNC GREENSBORO 67, LIBERTY 59
LIBERTY (6-7)
Frazee, Moriah 5-9 7-13 17; Frazee, Megan 5-10 1-3 13; Feagin,
Jamie 3-5 2-4 8; Fasnacht, Allyson 2-4 0-0 5; Frazee, Molly 1-6 2-2
5; Nikagbatse,Roli-Ann 2-3 0-0 4; Lightfoot, Rebecca 1-4 1-2 3;
Parker, Michelle 0-7 2-22; Hammond, Rachel 1-6 0-0 2; Watkins,
Courtney 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-5615-26 59.
UNC GREENSBORO (7-5)
Byrd, Jasmine 7-15 4-4 21; Latham, Kaleah 4-10 5-7 14; Otamiri,
Irene 4-10 0-1 10; Brooks, Kemena 4-9 0-0 9; Chamberlain, Meghan
3-10 2-2 8; Dixon, Jasmine 1-1 1-4 3; Boone, Kristen 1-9 0-0 2;
Frazier, Brittany 0-4 0-0 0; Grimsley, Gini 0-2 0-0 0; Ling, Ashley
0-0 0-0 0; Hyson, Lakiah 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-70 12-18 67.
Haltime score: Liberty, 36-33. 3-point goals--Liberty 4-16 (Frazee, Megan 2-4; Frazee, Molly 1-4; Fasnacht, Allyson 1-1; Lightfoot, Rebecca 0-2; Parker, Michelle 0-2; Hammond, Rachel0-2; Watkins, Courtney 0-1), UNC Greensboro 7-17 (Byrd, Jasmine 3-6;Otamiri, Irene 2-6; Brooks, Kemena 1-2; Latham, Kaleah 1-2; Grimsley, Gini 0-1). Fouled out--Liberty-None, UNC Greensboro-None. Rebounds--Liberty 40(Frazee, Megan 9; Feagin, Jamie 9), UNC Greensboro 52 (Latham, Kaleah 14).Assists--Liberty 9 (Parker, Michelle 2; Watkins, Courtney 2), UNC Greensboro 12 (Boone, Kristen 6). Total fouls--Liberty 20, UNC Greensboro 25. Technicalfouls--Liberty-None, UNC Greensboro-None.
- UNCG -