Spartans take down Paladins in SoCon Opener
Final: UNCG 70 Furman 55
January 13th, 2024
Greensboro- On Saturday, the Furman Paladins (11-7, 1-1) took the drive up to take on the UNC-Greensboro Spartans(13-4, 1-0) in the Spartans first home conference game of the season. UNC-G entered the matchup with a 31-28 overall series lead and were 18-9 at home.
The first quarter started out slow for both teams as each team struggled to score against the pressure defenses being played by both teams. The Paladins were able to get going as the quarter progressed. The Spartans were forced to take a timeout after the early 9-2 lead by the Paladins. The Paladins were led early by 5 quick points and 5 rebounds from the Junior Kate Johnson. The Spartans stormed back with a 9-2 run of their own to tie the game at 11-11 on a 3-point basket by Jayde Gamble. At the end of the first quarter, the Paladins led 16-15 and were led by Kate Johnson with 7 points.
UNCG opened the 2nd quarter with a quick 6-0 run to take the lead back at 21-15 forcing the Paladins to take a quick timeout. The Spartans were led by balanced scoring to start the second quarter with 6 different players scoring. After the timeout, the Paladins went on a 6-0 run of their own to tie the game at 21. After the teams traded baskets, the Spartans went on a 10-0 run to give them the lead 32-25 with 1:48 left in the half. After a flagrant 1 foul put the Spartans up 8,the Paladins went right back to Johnson to stop the run at 10. The Paladins were paced by Kate Johnson who led all scorers with 15 points and 7 rebounds in the first half. The lead was 33-27 Spartans at the half.
Starting the 3rd quarter, the Spartans came out with a 9-2 run to push the lead to 42-29. The Paladins answered with a hoop and the harm by Jada Session to cut the lead to 10 at 42-32. At the under 5 media timeout, the lead was 8 for the Spartans at 44-36. The lead jumped to 10 at 48-38 with 1:45 left in the 3rd quarter after the Paladins bench was issued a technical foul after a controversial call underneath the basket. At the end of the 3rd quarter, UNCG extended their halftime lead to 12 with the score 52-40. Isys Grady led the Spartans with 10 points on 4-10 shooting and chipped in 3 rebounds. The Paladins were led by Johnson as she continued her torrid day with 17 points and and 8 rebounds.
UNCG extended their lead to 61-47 with 5:12 left in the game as they continued to put pressure on the Paladins defense on with crisp interior passing and strong play from the point guard Isys Grady. The Spartans shot 45% for the game and 22% from 3 which led both teams. The Paladins got a lot of production from Jada Sesssion with 13 points, Tate Walters with 10, and Kate Johnson with 17 points. The bench for UNCG is where the difference in the game showed as they were able to outscore the Paladins by 12.
The lead ballooned to 16 with 3:20 left in the game as the Spartans led 65-49 and continued to put the game out of reach for the Paladins. UNCG was able to get balanced scoring up and down the lineup and ended with 9 different scorers. One big positive for the Paladins was the play of Sydney James. James had 6 points and 7 rebounds on 3-7 shooting. The final from Greensboro was 70-55
Next up for the Paladins is a matchup next Saturday against the Wofford Terriers on the road at 2PM.
