Gwaltney's Layup Gives UNCG 70-69 OT Win Over Furman

ChoRhonda Gwaltney scored seven of UNCG's 12 points in overtime including a layup with nine seconds left to give the Spartans a 70-69 Southern Conference women's basketball win over Furman January 8 at home.

The Lady Paladins' Jackie Smith, the two-time SoCon Player of the Year, missed a three-point try with one second remaining. Ashley Shipp, a product of Greensboro's Page High School, had given the visitors a 69-68 edge on a trey with 58 seconds left. The Spartans (7-4, 3-1) rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to force the extra period and earn their fifth straight win over Furman (6-7, 2-2), which lost for the sixth time in seven games away from home this season.

UNCG, the conference's pre-season favorite squad, trailed 46-32 when Furman's Torrie Scott hit a jumper with 15:27 remaining in regulation. But a 9-0 run got the Spartans back within five and and 8-0 run, capped by Katie DelCampo's jumper with 5:25 to go, pulled the team within one, 52-51. Samika Foster's layup with 3:43 left put UNCG up 54-53, for its first lead since late in the opening period. Furman's Kena Hodges hit a layup with four seconds left to tie the contest at 58. After Gwaltney traveled on the next possession, the Lady Paladins inbounded to Hodges under the basket and she was fouled by Sandi Reid with one second left. However, it was only UNCG's sixth team foul of the half, so no free throws were shot.

Smith, who missed her first eight shots, scored 11 points in the final 4:40 of the first half to help Furman to a 35-28 edge at the break. The visitors finished the half on a 15-4 run as a pair of Catey Peters layups were the only Spartan baskets. Foster led four UNCG players in double figures with 16 points, followed by Gwaltney's 15, Brianne Dodgen's 11 and Reid's 10.

Smith and Shipp had a game-high 18 each, while Hodges added 13. UNCG is at Davidson January 10 and Furman hosts Appalachian State January 11.