University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Radford
Asheville Women Hold On for Victory over Radford - UNC Asheville Bulldogs Official Athletics Site
01.01.1970 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2006
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Stacy Shepard scored 16 points to led three UNC Asheville players in double figures as the Bulldogs held on to a 72-69 Big South victory over Radford Saturday afternoon at the Justice Center.
Asheville (12-6, 3-2 Big South) led 67-56 with 2:37 to play but missed 7-of-12 free throws down the stretch as Radford (9-9, 2-3 Big South) made a frantic comeback led by Shavon Earp who scored a career-high 26 points and Sarah Stephens who scored 22 points and added 14 rebounds. The rest of the Highlanders combined for 21 points.
Kristal Hood made one of two free throws with 11 seconds left giving Radford a chance to tie the game on its final possession but Earp's three-pointer fell short and went off a Radford player out of bounds with four tenths of a second remaining.
"We were fortunate to win today," said Asheville Head Coach Betsy Blose. "I am happy for the win but this is going to serve as a learning experience for us. Radford out worked us and kept us on our heels playing not to lose. I think the positives for us were the play of Ana Baker and Wudi Alford. I had to make mass substitutions to begin the second half and the freshmen led us today. The last two games, Ana (Baker) has played with poise and confidence and she was the difference today."
The Bulldogs' defense was tough early as the Highlanders didn't score until the 13:30 mark of the first half. Asheville led 8-0 before a three-point play from Earp put Radford on the board.
The Bulldogs held their largest lead, 20-7, on a Shepard lay-up at the eight-minute mark. Asheville led 30-21 with five minutes to go in the first before going ice cold from the field as the Highlanders closed to 32-27 at halftime.
Earp scored the first six points of the second half to give Radford its first lead at 33-32. After a lay-up by Ashton Barton put the Bulldogs back up by one, Coach Blose subbed out her starting five. Baker made two steals, converted a lay-up on a fast break and hit a three-pointer to key a 12-2 Asheville run that put the Dogs up 48-39 with 11:45 to play.
Baker finished with a career-high's in points with 11, steals with five, and minutes with 23. Barton added 12 points and Alford had seven points and two steals for the Bulldogs who shot 43 percent from the floor but only 59 percent from the free throw line in the game.
Radford out rebounded the Asheville 53-41 including 25 offensive rebounds and took 17 more shots than the Bulldogs but shot 36 percent from the floor and 21 percent from three-point range.
The Bulldogs forced 19 RU turnovers and held a 21-6 advantage in points off of turnovers. Asheville's bench outscored Radford's bench 39-6.
UNC Asheville will have the week off and play next at home against Birmingham-Southern next Saturday (Feb. 4) at 2 p.m. Radford travels to Birmingham-Southern Monday night for an 8 p.m. league contest.
