CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team (1-3) dropped a heartbreaker to UNC Greensboro 57-53 at the Templeton Center on Friday night (Nov. 14).
The Spartans closed the game on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to claim the victory. The Blue Hose outscored UNC Greensboro 19-8 in the third quarter after trailing at the half by six but ultimately came up short.
Aminata Tal and Ja'Cia Cunningham led PC with 12 points apiece. Morgan Boyd had a big night as well for the Blue Hose, grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds. Samantha Mullock also finished with a career-night on the glass, coming away with nine boards. On the night, Presbyterian outrebounded the Spartans 37-33.
Shelby Fiddler, Aretha Linger, and Krystal Haddock were unavailable for the Blue Hose.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Blue Hose jumped on the Spartans to start the game, quickly taking a 7-2 lead three minutes into the period. UNCG responded with a 5-0 run to tie it halfway through the quarter before five points in a row from Aminata Tal put the Blue Hose back up 12-7. Right after, the Spartans went on a 7-0 run in the closing minutes of the quarter to go up 15-12. To end the period, Ja'Cia Cunningham got PC within one on a jumper in the paint. Through 10 minutes, Aminata Tal led PC with 8 points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field.
Second Quarter
UNCG scored the first four points to start the second before Cunningham got the Blue Hose on the board to cut the deficit to three down 19-16. A three by Allie Sykes followed to get PC back within two with five minutes left in the half. In the closing minutes, the Spartans rebuilt their lead to as many as nine with a minute to play. Down 30-21, Ore Ogunwolere made a free throw before Daniella Velez hit a buzzer beater jumper to get PC within six down 30-24 at the break. At the half, Tal led the Blue Hose with 8 points, while Boyd grabbed seven rebounds to pace PC on the glass.
Third Quarter
The defense took over for PC in the second half. Presbyterian held UNC Greensboro without a field goal until the Spartans finally made a jumper with 1:13 to play. Boyd got the Blue Hose going early, scoring PC's first four points to cut the lead to 31-28 with six minutes left in the quarter. After Samantha Mullock cut the deficit to one, PC finally took the lead on Sykes' second three of the evening. With under two minutes to go, a layup from Tal gave PC its largest lead of the night up 39-32. UNCG closed the quarter with six points in the final 80 seconds, but PC still led 43-38 entering the final period. The Spartans shot just 18.2 percent and made just two field goals in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
UNCG cut the deficit back to four in the opening seconds of the final period. Cunningham put PC back up five before five straight points from the Spartans tied the game at 46 with 5:21 left to play. Three free throws by Boyd in the next three minutes put PC up 49-47 with under three minutes to go in the game. UNCG responded to tie the game at 49 before Ogunwolere made a layup to give PC the lead again up 51-49. Two more free throws by Ogunwolere gave PC a four-point cushion up 53-49, but the Blue Hose never scored again in the game. The Spartans drilled a three with 20 seconds left to take a 55-53 lead, which proved to be the game-winner. PC had one more chance in the final seconds but did not capitalize, falling 57-53. UNCG finished the night on an 8-0 run in the final 1:41 of the game.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose continue their homestand on Monday morning (Nov. 17) for Education Day against Erskine at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN+.
