Sergio Guerra, Sports Editor/Photographer 

UNCG Women’s Basketball won its final home game of the season against Western Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 22. UNCG was 13-0 at home and leading the SOCON standings coming into this game. A win on the day saw UNCG reach an unsurmountable record of 11-1 and clinch the SOCON regular-season title. It was also the final home game of the regular season. 

It was a tight game, but one that UNCG was able to win with a final score of 57-53. The Spartans were able to capitalize on a poor final quarter by Western Carolina. Nya Smith and Makiah Asidanya led the team in points with 14 and 13 respectively. Meanwhile, Khalis Cain was able to accumulate 10 rebounds, with seven of those being offensive. 

Senior Day was also celebrated, with six Spartans being recognized. The Senior Spartans were Jayde Gamble, Nasia Powell, Kennedy Simpson, Khalis Cain, Jailah Clark-Jones, and Nia Howard. They will be happy to close out the season being undefeated champs at their home court in Fleming Gymnasium. 

Seniors weren’t the only ones being recognized at the game against Western. Angie Polk-Jones was honored as the first Spartan student-athlete to have a jersey retired. She led the Spartans to a third-place finish in the NCAA Division III as a junior. During her career from 1985 to 1989, the Spartans had a record of 93-22. She is in the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame. 

UNCG Women’s Basketball will have two more away games for the SOCON regular season: at Samford on Feb. 27, and at Mercer on March 1. After that, it’s off to the SOCON tournament in Asheville, March 6-9, for an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. 

Meanwhile, UNCG Men’s Basketball currently sits second in the Men’s SOCON standings with a record of 12-4. The Spartans have one more game at First Horizon Coliseum this season: first place Chattanooga, who hold a record of 13-3, on Thursday, Feb. 27. UNCG needs to win on Thursday for a shot at the SOCON regular season championship and an automatic place in the Big Dance.