Davidson Drops Second Close SoCon Game, 59-58

Friday, December 31

Davidson, N.C

2:00 p.m.

Davidson College

4-6, 0-2SoCon

UNCG

6-5, 3-0SoCon

UNCG

Davidson

Laura Murray went 6-of-8 from the floor and added a pair of free throws for a team-high 14 points.

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Davidson Drops Second Close SoCon Game, 59-58

12/31/2010 4:59:56 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson dropped its second close Southern Conference game when UNCG's Janae' Stevenson hit three free throws in the closing 1:48 and the Wildcats got just one more bucket after that in falling 59-58 on Friday afternoon at John M. Belk Arena in women's basketball action.

The Wildcats (4-6, 0-2 SoCon) got a layup from Sophia Aleksandravicius with 1:10 to go, but in their final chance with 10 seconds left, turned the ball over and were forced to foul with one tick on the clock. UNCG's Amanda Leigh missed both free throw attempts, but Davidson had no time left to get off a shot in dropping the one-point decision.

Davidson had dropped a 61-60 decision earlier in the month when it opened up league play at Elon.

Aleksandravicius (10), Kristen Johnsen (12) and Laura Murray (14) each reached double-figures for the Wildcats, who shot just 39 percent from the field.

Leigh had a game-high 18 points for UNCG (6-5, 3-0 SoCon), getting 12 of them from behind the arc, while Stevenson and Monique Floyd had 12 and 10 points, respectively.

In a game that went back-and-forth the majority of the contest, neither team had a lead bigger than seven points when the Spartans' Leigh canned a three-ball for a 49-42 advantage with 10:45 remaining.

Davidson came back and went on a 10-2 run with Murray finishing it off on a running layup to give the 'Cats a 52-51 lead with 6:21 on the clock.

Shneeka Center later gave Davidson back the lead, 56-54, with a pair of free throws, but UNCG tied things up on its next possession with just 2:18 left on the clock. Center finished with six points and five boards off the bench.

For the game, there were 10 ties and 16 lead changes overall. Seven of those ties came in the first half when the Spartans took a 31-29 lead going into halftime. Davidson had grabbed a 25-21 lead after Johnsen hit a 10-foot jumper, but UNCG closed with a 10-4 run for the two-point advantage after one period.

Davidson held a 43-42 edge in rebounds, with three players hauling in six or more. The 'Cats also had their eighth game of the season, and sixth straight, with 10 or more assists as Barbara Sitton dished out a game-high tying five dimes. The sophomore, coming off a career-high 11 vs. Princeton, has dished out 28 assists the last four games.

The Wildcats will look to start the new calendar year out with a win and close out their three-game homestand when they host College of Charleston on Monday, Jan. 3.

GAME NOTES: Davidson saw its two-game win streak in the series vs. UNCG halted ... The 'Cats scored 36 of their 58 points in the paint ... the 2002-03 season was the last time Davidson started 0-2 in league play ... Davidson has now had three games this year with at least three players scoring in double digits ... For the fifth time this year, Davidson held an opponent to under 35 percent shooting as UNCG finished at 34.8 percent ... Aleksandravicius had hit the double-figure mark in points in eight of the last nine games.