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MVP Cain's 20-point performance Leads UNCG To SoCon Tournament Crown, 64-57, Over Chattanooga
Spartans Claim Second Tournament Title
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Top-seeded UNC Greensboro rallied to send the game into overtime before knocking off two-time defending champion UT-Chattanooga 64-57 to win the Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship at Harrah's Cherokee Center on Sunday afternoon.
The title was just the second ever for the Spartans, whose previous championship came in 1998. The title was also the first for veteran coach Trina Patterson, who won her first conference tournament championship in 26 years as a head coach, the last nine in Greensboro.UTC also experienced a first, losing in the SoCon championship game for the first time after 20 wins dating back to 1984.
Coming back from a 40-34 deficit midway through the fourth quarter, the Spartans scored the first six points in overtime. Forward Nia Howard made two free throws, Nya Smith contributed a three-point play, and forward Khalis Cain made one of two free throws for a 60-54 lead with 42 seconds remaining.
The Mocs weren't done, as forward Gianna Corbitt made a long three-pointer with 30 seconds left to cut the deficit in half. Jayde Gamble of UNCG missed two free throws before Corbitt attempted and missed on a three-pointer that would have tied the game. One free throw by Gamble and two by Smith provided the final points for the Spartans, who extended their winning streak to 14 games.
The end of regulation provided much excitement as Cain scored with 1:08 remaining to give UNCG a 51-49 lead. Mocs forward Karsen Murphy countered with a three-pointer 20 seconds later that put the Mocs in front 52-51. UNCG came down and got the ball to Cain, who was fouled while attempting a shot. She missed the first free throw but made the second to tie the score 52-52 with 33.9 seconds remaining. After a timeout, UTC ran the clock down before sophomore guard Caia Elisaldez drove and missed a scoop shot. The ball went out of bounds with 3.8 seconds left. The Spartans called time but missed a chance at a win in regulation on an errant three-point try by Gamble.
Cain, who was named tournament Most Outstanding Player, made 6-of-7 field-goal attempts and led the Spartans with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Gamble added 12 points and Smith 10 for the winners. Corbitt led UTC with 18 points, followed by Brooke Anya (13) and Murphy (11).
The Spartans Kelly Boyle was named the 2025 Knight Commission Pinnacle Award winner, given to the athlete with the highest GPA on the championship winning team. The sophomore from Maple Grove, Minnesota, is majoring in Sociology and has a 3.98 GPA.
Records: UNC Greensboro 25-6, UT Chattanooga 16-14.
STATS TO KNOW
- UNCG led by as many as 10 points in the first half.
- UNCG made 24-of-33 free throws, UTC made 10-of-13. Cain made 8-of-12 and Gamble 5-of-6 for the Spartans.
- UNCG won the rebounding battle 45-38.
First Team All-Tournament
Khalis Cain, UNCG
Caia Elisaldez, Chattanooga
Karsen Murphy, Chattanooga
Claire Johnson, Samford
Helen Matthews, Wofford
Second Team All-Tournament
Kendall Folley, ETSU
Tate Walters, Furman
Jada Session, Furman
Jayde Gamble, UNCG
Gianna Corbitt, Chattanooga
Most Outstanding Player
Khalis Cain, UNCG
Knight Commission Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Kelly Boyle, UNCG
2025 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship
Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville, Asheville, N.C.
Thursday, March 6
Game 1 – No. 1 UNCG 50, No. 8 Western Carolina 43
Game 2 – No. 2 Chattanooga 68, No. 7 Mercer 47
Game 3 –No. 6 Furman 64, No. 3 ETSU 58
Game 4 – No. 4 Wofford 58, No. 5 Samford 56
Friday, March 7
Game 5 – No. 1 UNCG 54, No. 4 Wofford 50
Game 6 – No. 2 Chattanooga 63, No. 6 Furman 55
Sunday, March 9
Championship Game
Game 7 – No. 1 UNCG 64, No. 2 Chattanooga 57 (OT)
The title was just the second ever for the Spartans, whose previous championship came in 1998. The title was also the first for veteran coach Trina Patterson, who won her first conference tournament championship in 26 years as a head coach, the last nine in Greensboro.UTC also experienced a first, losing in the SoCon championship game for the first time after 20 wins dating back to 1984.
Coming back from a 40-34 deficit midway through the fourth quarter, the Spartans scored the first six points in overtime. Forward Nia Howard made two free throws, Nya Smith contributed a three-point play, and forward Khalis Cain made one of two free throws for a 60-54 lead with 42 seconds remaining.
The Mocs weren't done, as forward Gianna Corbitt made a long three-pointer with 30 seconds left to cut the deficit in half. Jayde Gamble of UNCG missed two free throws before Corbitt attempted and missed on a three-pointer that would have tied the game. One free throw by Gamble and two by Smith provided the final points for the Spartans, who extended their winning streak to 14 games.
The end of regulation provided much excitement as Cain scored with 1:08 remaining to give UNCG a 51-49 lead. Mocs forward Karsen Murphy countered with a three-pointer 20 seconds later that put the Mocs in front 52-51. UNCG came down and got the ball to Cain, who was fouled while attempting a shot. She missed the first free throw but made the second to tie the score 52-52 with 33.9 seconds remaining. After a timeout, UTC ran the clock down before sophomore guard Caia Elisaldez drove and missed a scoop shot. The ball went out of bounds with 3.8 seconds left. The Spartans called time but missed a chance at a win in regulation on an errant three-point try by Gamble.
Cain, who was named tournament Most Outstanding Player, made 6-of-7 field-goal attempts and led the Spartans with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Gamble added 12 points and Smith 10 for the winners. Corbitt led UTC with 18 points, followed by Brooke Anya (13) and Murphy (11).
The Spartans Kelly Boyle was named the 2025 Knight Commission Pinnacle Award winner, given to the athlete with the highest GPA on the championship winning team. The sophomore from Maple Grove, Minnesota, is majoring in Sociology and has a 3.98 GPA.
Records: UNC Greensboro 25-6, UT Chattanooga 16-14.
STATS TO KNOW
- UNCG led by as many as 10 points in the first half.
- UNCG made 24-of-33 free throws, UTC made 10-of-13. Cain made 8-of-12 and Gamble 5-of-6 for the Spartans.
- UNCG won the rebounding battle 45-38.
First Team All-Tournament
Khalis Cain, UNCG
Caia Elisaldez, Chattanooga
Karsen Murphy, Chattanooga
Claire Johnson, Samford
Helen Matthews, Wofford
Second Team All-Tournament
Kendall Folley, ETSU
Tate Walters, Furman
Jada Session, Furman
Jayde Gamble, UNCG
Gianna Corbitt, Chattanooga
Most Outstanding Player
Khalis Cain, UNCG
Knight Commission Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Kelly Boyle, UNCG
2025 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship
Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville, Asheville, N.C.
Thursday, March 6
Game 1 – No. 1 UNCG 50, No. 8 Western Carolina 43
Game 2 – No. 2 Chattanooga 68, No. 7 Mercer 47
Game 3 –No. 6 Furman 64, No. 3 ETSU 58
Game 4 – No. 4 Wofford 58, No. 5 Samford 56
Friday, March 7
Game 5 – No. 1 UNCG 54, No. 4 Wofford 50
Game 6 – No. 2 Chattanooga 63, No. 6 Furman 55
Sunday, March 9
Championship Game
Game 7 – No. 1 UNCG 64, No. 2 Chattanooga 57 (OT)