The Basics

Score: UNCG 71, Western Carolina 59

Records:  Western Carolina 4-16, 0-5 SoCon, UNCG 8-12, 2-3 SoCon

Location: Fleming Gymnasium, Greensboro, N.C.           

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman Jewel Smalls scored a career-high 21 points in Western Carolina women's basketball's 71-59 loss at UNCG Saturday in Fleming Gymnasium. 

Twice Western Carolina cut the UNCG lead to single digits in the second half, including trimming the Spartan lead down to five, 62-57 with two minutes left in the game. UNCG kept the lead by going on a 9-2 run in the final two minutes of the game.

Turning Point

UNCG outscored Western Carolina 22-11 in the first period and coasted on that initial lead through the rest of the game.

Individual Leaders

• Smalls led the Catamounts with 21 points. It is the first time a Catamount women's basketball freshman has scored 20 or more points in a game since the 2015-16 season when then-rookie Raziyah Farrington scored 24 against UNCG on Feb. 27, 2016.
• Junior Judith Martin Ruiz had 12 points in the game hitting three treys in the contest.
• Senior Angel Allen led the Catamounts ripping down eight rebounds.
• UNCG's Nadine Solomon led all scorers with 24 points and recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds to add to her total. 
• Inside the Box Score
• Western Carolina shot 39 percent in the game while UNCG shot 45 percent.
• UNCG ripped down 13 more rebounds then Western Carolina with 43 to the Catamounts 30.
• Western Carolina doubled up UNCG from behind the three-point arc hitting six three-pointers while the Spartans hit three.
• The Catamounts had 19 turnovers which UNCG turned into 17 points.

News & Notes

• Smalls' 21 points were the ninth time this season she has scored in double figures this season and has now broken her career scoring record in back-to-back games.
• It is also the sixth time Smalls has led the Catamounts in scoring in a game.
• Smalls hit a career-high eight field goals and tied her career-high with three made three-pointers.
• Western Carolina has now hit six or more three-pointers in 13 games this season.
• Martin Ruiz has scored in double figures in back-to-back games and has scored in double figures in seven games this season.

Upcoming

Western Carolina continues its three-game road swing traveling to Chattanooga at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The game is the front-end of a doubleheader as Catamount men's basketball will face the Mocs at 8 p.m.

For the latest information on Catamount women's basketball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.