GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — UNC Greensboro used a dominant second half to overcome a slow start and defeat Samford 73-64 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Greensboro Coliseum. The Spartans, who trailed 27-18 at halftime, outscored the Bulldogs 55-37 after the break. Jeni Levine led UNC Greensboro with 21 points. Jaila Lee added 17 points for the Spartans, who improved to 11-5 overall. Kaylee Yarbrough scored 15 points for Samford, and Sierra Godbolt added 13. The Bulldogs fell to 7-11. Samford led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but UNC Greensboro took control with a 22-point third quarter. The Spartans sealed the victory by making key free throws in the final minute.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge, fueled by a career-high 21 points from Jeni Levine, propelled the UNC Greensboro women’s basketball team to a 73-64 victory over Samford in a Southern Conference matchup Thursday night at Greensboro Coliseum. The Spartans, who trailed by nine points at halftime, outscored the Bulldogs 55-36 over the final two quarters, including a decisive 33-point fourth quarter, to improve to 11-5 overall. Samford fell to 7-11. The game’s pivotal shift occurred immediately after halftime. UNC Greensboro, which managed only 18 points in the entire first half, erupted for 22 points in the third quarter to erase the deficit and seize control. The Spartans opened the second half on a 14-4 run, turning a 27-18 halftime disadvantage into a 32-31 lead they would not relinquish. The run was keyed by Levine, who scored seven points during the stretch, and Jaila Lee, who hit a critical three-pointer. Levine, a 5-foot-7 guard from Vinton, Virginia, was the catalyst, playing 32 minutes and adding four assists and a block to her scoring total. Lee, a 5-9 guard from Brentwood, Tennessee, provided crucial support with 17 points, including three three-pointers, and two assists. The Spartans’ offense, which sputtered early, found its rhythm after the break, shooting 12 for 27 from beyond the arc for the game. Samford, which led 27-18 at intermission thanks to a 20-point second quarter, could not sustain its early efficiency against a reinvigorated UNC Greensboro defense. The Bulldogs were held to a 40.8% shooting night and committed 13 turnovers, which the Spartans converted into 17 points. Kaylee Yarbrough led Samford with 15 points, while Sierra Godbolt added 13. The Bulldogs were a perfect 16 for 16 from the free-throw line but were outscored 24-16 in the paint and were hampered by UNC Greensboro’s five blocked shots. The fourth quarter saw the Spartans put the game away with relentless offense, scoring 33 points on a combination of drives, three-pointers, and free throws. After Samford closed to within 51-48 with 7:43 remaining, UNC Greensboro answered with a 9-2 run, capped by another Lee three-pointer, to extend the lead to 60-50 and effectively seal the outcome. Ciara Harris contributed seven points, three assists, and two steals for UNC Greensboro, while Rylan Moffitt anchored the interior with eight points, two blocks, and a game-high 11 rebounds. Emily Bowman scored seven points and blocked two shots for Samford. The game was a tale of two halves, with Samford controlling the tempo early before UNC Greensboro’s explosive second-half performance overwhelmed the visitors. The Spartans’ offensive rating of 106.4 points per 100 possessions over the final 20 minutes starkly contrasted with their first-half struggles and proved insurmountable for the Bulldogs. UNC Greensboro will host Mercer on Saturday. Samford travels to face Western Carolina, also on Saturday.

Preview: Samford Bulldogs at UNC Greensboro Spartans GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — A surging UNC Greensboro squad will look to continue its dominant home stretch when it hosts a struggling Samford team in a Southern Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday at Greensboro Coliseum. The Spartans (10-5) enter on a five-game winning streak, including four consecutive blowout victories at home where they have averaged 102.5 points. UNC Greensboro’s most recent outing was a 94-39 rout of Livingstone on Jan. 3. Guard Jeni Levine has been instrumental during the run, averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists over her last five games. She posted a near triple-double with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over CarolinaU on Jan. 1. Samford (7-10) has lost two of its last three, including a 49-65 loss at UAB on Dec. 22. The Bulldogs snapped a two-game skid with a 70-54 home win over Fisk on Jan. 2, led by 18 points from guard Briana Rivera. Rivera averages 10.6 points per game and scored 18 in the team’s last contest. The Spartans have relied on a stifling defense during their streak, holding three of their last five opponents below 40 points. Samford has faced challenges offensively against stronger competition, failing to reach 60 points in four of its 10 losses this season. This game opens the conference schedule for both teams. UNC Greensboro will aim to leverage its home-court advantage, where it is 7-1 this season. Samford seeks its first true road win since Nov. 26. Following this game, UNC Greensboro will host Mercer on Saturday. Samford travels to face Western Carolina on Jan. 10.