Local Elementary Students Cheer On Lady Hawks To Win

WILMINGTON, N.C. –Sophomore forward Brittany Blackwell scored 24 points and matched her career-high with 12 rebounds to record her seventh career double-double and lead UNC Wilmington to a 53-50 victory over UNC Greensboro in collegiate women’s basketball action Thursday at Trask Coliseum.

Playing in front of a Coliseum-record crowd of 2,264, the Seahawks remained undefeated on the season as they improved to 3-0 while the Spartans dropped to 0-3. The game was part of the second annual “Seahawks Tomorrow” festivities, as local elementary school students attended the game as part of a day of activities with UNCW student-athletes on the UNCW campus.

Blackwell scored 17 of her game-high 24 points in the second half, including eight of the team’s final nine points, as UNCW fought back from a six-point deficit midway through the second half. She was 7-for-14 from the floor and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line to lead a UNCW attack that struggled from the floor, shooting 30.4 percent (13-of-46) from the field for the contest.

Junior Greta Luksyte was the only other Seahawk to reach double figures as she tallied 11 points. Blackwell’s 12 caroms highlighted a 40-34 edge on the glass as senior Sahsha Taylor pulled down nine and Luksyte added six.

Sophomore Agne Girstautaite tallied 11 points for UNCG while senior Gini Grimsley and junior Lakiah Hyson chipped in nine points each. Grimsley grabbed eight rebounds to pace the Spartans efforts on the boards while Hyson added six. Hyson and sophomore Monique Floyd both dished out a game-best four assists.

Trailing 45-42 with 3:43 remaining in the contest, a pair of free-throws by sophomore Treasure Johnson and a layup by Blackwell gave UNCW a 46-45 lead with 3:06 left. The two teams then traded baskets, and the lead, over the next two minutes until a free-throw by Hyson at the 1:13 mark tied the game at 50-all.

The two teams followed the Hyson free-throw with a scoreless possession before UNCW sophomore Sheronda McLean sank one of two free throws to give the Seahawks a one-point edge, 51-50, with 42 seconds on the clock. UNCG missed a three-pointer on its next trip down the floor and was forced to foul Blackwell, who made both of her attempts to increase the UNCW cushion to three, 53-50, with seven seconds on the clock.

The Spartans had one last chance to tie the game, but Hyson was called for a turnover as she crossed midcourt, allowing the Seahawks to run out the clock for the victory.

Earlier in the contest, UNCG scored six straight points to break an 11-all tie and take a 17-11 lead midway through the first half. The Spartans would lead by as many as eight in the opening frame before UNCW scored the last four points of the half to cut the Spartans cushion to 23-19 at the break.

UNCW struggled offensively in the first half, shooting just 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from the floor, including a 0-for-6 effort from beyond the arc, and committing 12 turnovers. UNCG was 11-of-31 (.355) from the field and was charged with 10 miscues in the opening frame.

UNCG maintained its lead until a 6-0 spurt by UNCW midway through the second half tied the game at 35-all. The two teams battled back-and-forth over the next six minutes until back-to-back jumpers by Grimsley and Floyd gave the Spartans a 45-42 lead and set the stage for Blackwell’s heroics.

UNCW returns to action Nov. 28 as they take on Fordham at 4 p.m. CST in the first day of action at the Cancun Thanksgiving Classic. UNCG is back on the court Nov. 24 when it hosts High Point in a 7 p.m. contest.

Notes: The Seahawks enjoyed a 31-6 edge in free-throws taken … UNCW has held its opponents under 30 points in each of the last five halves played … UNCG held a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint … The Spartans bench out-scored the Seahawks reserves 15-4 … Taylor moved into sole possession of eighth place on the school’s career rebounding list, passing Elizabeth Bell (598)with her second rebound of the contest … With her miss at the 10:44 mark of the second half, Luksyte’s school-record for consecutive free-throws made ended at 52.
-Courtesy UNCW (Photo: Eric Bartsch)

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT