GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team will welcome the Columbia College (S.C.) Koalas on Thursday night at 7 p.m. inside Bodford Arena.
Thursday's contest with the Koalas marks the second meeting between the two teams in program history. UNCG and Columbia College faced off last season, with the Spartans earning a dominating 96-25 victory in Bodford Arena.
Game 2: UNC Greensboro vs. Columbia College
- Matchup: UNC Greensboro (1-0, 0-0 SoCon) vs. Columbia College (0-2, 0-0 AAC)
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 5
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Greensboro, N.C. (Bodford Arena)
- Tickets: Click here to purchase tickets
- Promotion: Healthcare Heroes Night
- Coverage: Watch: ESPN+ | Live Stats
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Last time out for the Spartans
- UNCG took down Presbyterian in its season opener on Monday night, 58-50, inside Bodford Arena.
- Gloria Tony led all scorers with 17 points, while Kristina Rakotobe recorded her second career double-double after registering 10 points and 10 rebounds.
- Savannah Robinson-Holmes and Rose Simpson chipped in nine points apiece.
- Leyla Minor recorded a career-best eight rebounds and matched her career-best four blocks.
- Tiarna Chambers-Desmond recorded seven points and six rebounds.
- The Spartans were one of five teams in the Southern Conference (SoCon) to secure their season opener on Monday night.
Scouting the Spartans
- The Spartans concluded the 2025-26 season 14-16 overall and 4-10 in the SoCon.
- Last season ended with a 62-50 loss to ETSU in the SoCon Tournament quarterfinals at Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina.
- UNCG was selected to finish eighth in the 2026-27 SoCon preseason coaches poll.
- Head coach Trina Patterson returns for her 11th season at the helm of the UNCG women's basketball team, leading the Spartans to 160 victories during her time.
- The three-time SoCon Coach of the Year, Patterson saw her winningest season as a head coach in the 2024-25 season, leading UNCG to a 25-7 overall record and its second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
- The 2026-27 squad features 11 newcomers, including eight freshmen and three transfers.
- Among the returners for the Spartans are Minor, Joelle Davis and Salimata Traore.
- Minor is the returning leading scorer for the Spartans, averaging 4.7 points per game last season.
- Minor and Rakotobe are the leading returners in rebounding after averaging 2.5 boards per game each last year.
- As a team, the Spartans concluded the 2025-26 season first in the SoCon in five statistical categories, including assist/turnover ratio (0.92), assists per game (13.3), scoring defense (56.5), scoring margin (7.0) and turnover margin (2.87).
- The Spartans' 56.5 scoring defense finished 10th in the country last season.
Scouting the Koalas
- Thursday night's contest will be an exhibition matchup for Columbia College as the Koalas compete in the NAIA.
- Columbia College comes to Greensboro 0-2 overall after taking losses to Clinton College, 78-63, and Abraham Baldwin, 63-58, to begin the 2026-27 season.
- Jada Whitesides is pacing the team with an 11.5 points per game average and 4.5 assists per game average in two games played.
- Armani Cole has a 7.5 rebounds per game average.
- JoMoriah Ben is pacing the team with a 3.0 steals per game average.
- Head coach Toccara Toland is in her second season at the helm of the Columbia College women's basketball program.
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UNCG women's basketball ticket information
To hear about ticket options for UNCG women's basketball home games, contact the ticket office to discuss full season, flex plans, discounted group tickets or single-game tickets. For more information, please contact Ashlynn Templin in the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250 or email antemplin@uncg.edu.
The Spartans will begin their 2026-27 road slate, traveling to Clemson to face the Tigers in Littlejohn Coliseum on Sunday at 2 p.m.
