UNCG finishes strong for a 50-43 win over the Catamounts; Chattanooga Cruises to a 68-47 win over the Bears

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Top-seeded UNC Greensboro avoided a major upset with a strong finish in the final minutes to beat No. 8 seed Western Carolina, 50-43, in the opening game of the  2025 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball  Championship Tournament at Harrah's Cherokee Center.

The Spartans, who came into the game with an 11-game winning streak, scored the final seven points of the game after Western Carolina had tied the game, 43-43, on a pair of free throws by guard Jada Burton with 5 minutes 42 seconds remaining in regulation.

UNCG took the lead. for good. 45-43. on a driving layup by Jaila Lee with 4:26 remaining.

The Catamounts then missed on several opportunities to either tie or take the lead before UNCG freshman guard Nia Smith scored  a basket from close range for a 47-43 lead with 1:50 remaining.

UNCG advances to a semifinal game on Friday between the winner of the game between Wofford and Samford.

Despite finishing in last place in the conference, Western Carolina came into the game having lost twice to the Spartans during the regular season by a total of just 12 points, 66-58 at Western on Jan. 25 and 57-53 at UNCG on Feb. 22.

The Catamounts came out ready to play, battling the Spartans during a first quarter that saw the lead change hands six times before two free throws by Jaila Lee gave UNCG a 13-12 lead with 19.1 seconds remaining in the quarter. Those were the final points of the first 10 minutes.

The Spartans scored the first eight points of the second quarter, five by Yacine N'Diaye, to take a 21-13 advantage with 5:28 remaining in the first half. Their lead grew to  11 at 27-16 before a 3-pointer by Nicole Azar with 44 seconds remaining pulled Western within 9 at 28-19 by halftime.

UNCG held a 34-25 lead midway through the third quarter before Burton made a pair of 3-pointers during a 13-7 run by the Cats as they pulled within 3 at 41-38 by the end of the third quarter.

Lee, who played at UNC Asheville last season, led the Spartans with 14 points while forward Khalis Cain added 13 and led all players with 15 rebounds.

Burton was the  lone Catamount in double figures with 11 points.

No. 32 Chattanooga 68, No. 7 Mercer 47

ASHEVILLE - No. 2 seed Chattanooga led from start to finish, building a 23-point halftime lead on its way to a 68-47 win over No. 7 Mercer in a quarterfinal game of the 2025 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament Thursday afternoon at  Harrah's Cherokee Center.

Chattanooga, the two-time defending SoCon Tournament champion, advanced to a Friday matchup between the winner of  No. 3 ETSU and No. 6 Furman.

The Mocs made 5-of-7 three-point attempts in the opening quarter in jumping out to a 23-11 lead. Three of the treys came from guard/forward Karsen Murphy, who entered the game with an 8.5 scoring average. She scored all 11 of her points in the opening half.

Forward/center Brooke Anya, who averaged 7.6 points during the regular season, added 10 first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting. She finished with a game-high 17. Teammate Cala Elisaldez finished with 11. 

Talia Harris led Mercer with 13.

Chattanooga made 14-of-30 field-goals (46.7 percent) in the opening half, including 6-of-11 from beyond the three-point arc.  Mercer made just 6-of-26 field-goal attempts in the opening half and was also outrebounded 24-12.

The Bears tried making a game of it in the second half. outscoring the Moc, 17-9, in the third quarter to pull within 47-32. Mercer scored the first two points of the final quarter to pull within 13, but Chattanooga eventually built its lead back to 24 at 66-42 with 56 seconds remaining.

Records: Chattanooga 15-13, Mercer 8-22

STATS TO KNOW

- After losing three straight years in the quarterfinals from 2020 to 2022, Chattanooga has won its last seven games in the conference tournament.

 - Chattanooga led Mercer in second-chance points 10-6, in fastbreak points 8-2 and in bench scoring 11-6.

- Following its fast start from the three-point line Chattanooga went 1-for-10 in the second half to finish 7-of-21 (33 percent).  Mercer was 2-of-10 (20 percent).

STATS TO KNOW

- Western Carolina was trying to win a tournament game for the first time since 2014.

 - UNCG made just 3-of-17 3-point attempts. Western Carolina was 8-of-21 from behind the arc with Burton and Chelsea Wooten making two each.

-- UNCG won the rebounding battle, 44-31. The Spartans also forced Western into 17 turnovers.