Brooks’ 26 points sends UNCG past Wofford, 66-63

GREENSBORO, NC – Senior guard Kemena Brooks had a career-high 26 points and extended her consecutive free throws made streak to 12 to lead the UNC Greensboro women’s basketball team to a 66-63 win over Wofford on Thursday night. The Spartans snapped a seven-game losing streak with the win.

UNCG (6-22, 4-13 SoCon) was led by Brooks’ 26 points on 10-of-23 shooting from the field. The Accokeek, MD native was 4-of-8 from behind the arc and grabbed three rebounds in the win. Jasmine Dixon was a point and a rebound shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds while Lakiah Hyson and Monique Floyd had five assists each.

Wofford (9-19, 2-15 SoCon) was led by freshman Mahagony Williams’ 19 points and 12 rebounds, her third double-double in the last five games. Natalie Gramblin also scored in double figures with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor.

The Spartans shot 35.7 percent for the game on 25-of-70 shooting from the field while Wofford shot 42.1 percent for the game. The Terriers also held a 48-41 rebounding edge.

The Terriers used several quick buckets to open the second half and pulled ahead 28-24 with only three minutes off the game clock but the Spartans kept in the game with a quick jumper.

Wofford went on a 5-0 run to pull ahead 34-28 but Brooks put the team on her back and answered with 10 consecutive points to put UNCG ahead, 41-36 at the second media timeout. Wofford wouldn’t go away and was able to cut the lead to three-points but UNCG found their shooting touch and wouldn’t be denied as they extended their lead to 50-43.

“I was pleased with the way Kemena responded in the second half,” said coach Lynne Agee. “She has been in a bit of a shooting slump lately and for her to knock them down in the second half made all of the difference.” 

The Terriers had their chances late in the game and cut the lead to three points and had a chance with a long three-pointer to end the game but the Spartans held their ground and pulled out the victory to end their seven-game skid.

Turnovers were the name of the game in the first half. The Spartans were able to force the Terriers into nine first half errors within the first eight minutes of the game which translated into seven points for UNCG.  Wofford had turnovers on three straight possessions which turned into a 6-0 UNCG run giving them a 15-8 lead at the 11:34 mark.

Wofford returned the favor and forced the Spartans into several turnovers and got right back in the game and back-to-back three-pointers from Laura Depko cut the lead to 15-14.  The teams traded buckets late in the game and went into the break at a 24-24 stalemate.

Between the two squads there were 27 turnovers in the first stanza. UNCG held a 14-8 advantage in the paint but the Terriers held a 35-20 rebounding advantage. Three players led the way in scoring as Wofford’s Mahagony Williams and Natalie Gramblin each had six along with UNCG’s Kemena Brooks. 

The Spartans close out the regular-season on Saturday when they host Furman on Senior Day. UNCG will honor seniors, Kemena Brooks, Meghan Chamberlain, Jasmine Dixon and Brittany Frazier in a pre-game ceremony. First tip is scheduled for 3 pm.

AGATE
UNCG 66, WOFFORD 63

WOFFORD (9-19, 2-15 SoCon)
WILLIAMS, Mahagony 7-10 5-6 19; GRAMBLIN, Natalie 6-10 2-4 15; DEPKO, Laura 3-5 0-0 8; DWYER, Kelly 3-7 0-0 6; VARNO, Kathlyn 2-8 0-0 4; KOENIG, Kelsi 1-5 2-2 4; MILLER, Liz 1-7 2-4 4; DEMPSEY, Kate 1-3 0-0 2; HELMS, Maddie 0-1 1-2 1; BRADLEY, Kristin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-57 12-18 63.

UNCG (6-22, 4-13 SoCon)
BROOKS,Kemena 10-23 2-2 26; DIXON,Jasmine 4-6 1-3 9; MULLINS,Ashley 3-6 0-1 7; FLOYD,Monique 1-6 4-4 6; CHAMBERLAIN,Meghan 2-3 1-3 5; FRAZIER,Brittany 2-6 1-2 5; HYSON,Lakiah 1-7 1-2 3; LING,Ashley 1-3 0-2 3; GRIMSLEY,Gini 1-3 0-0 2; GIRSTAUTAITE,Agne 0-0 0-0 0; SMITH,Kendra 0-6 0-0 0; BANNER,TaShama 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-70 10-19 66.

Halftime: 24-24; 3-point goals--Wofford 3-11 (DEPKO, Laura 2-2; GRAMBLIN, Natalie 1-2; KOENIG, Kelsi 0-2; MILLER, Liz 0-3; HELMS, Maddie 0-1; BRADLEY, Kristin 0-1), UNCG 6-14 (BROOKS,Kemena 4-8; MULLINS,Ashley 1-3; LING,Ashley 1-1; HYSON,Lakiah 0-1; GRIMSLEY,Gini 0-1). Fouled out--Wofford-None, UNCG-None. Rebounds--Wofford 48 (WILLIAMS, Mahagony 12), UNCG 41 (DIXON,Jasmine 9). Assists--Wofford 17 (MILLER, Liz 5), UNCG 17 (HYSON,Lakiah 5; FLOYD,Monique5). Total fouls--Wofford 19, UNCG 17. Technical fouls--Wofford-None, UNCG-None.

- UNCG -