ASHEVILLE, N.C.?Ashton Barton scored 22 points and tied a school record with six three-pointers as UNC Asheville defeated Furman 79-67 Tuesday night at the Justice Center.
Asheville (3-1) used a 16-0 run early in the first half to turn a 7-4 deficit into a 20-7 lead and would never trail again. Lindsey Montgomery had six points, a steal, and an assist in the run. She finished the game with 14 points and six rebounds.
Furman (2-2) made a strong comeback at the end of the first half. With the Bulldogs leading 31-16 at the 4:32 mark, The Paladins went on a 15-2 run to cut the lead to two points at 33-31. Barton hit one of her career high six three-pointers to push the lead back to four points.
The Bulldogs took a 38-34 lead into halftime and then scored the first six points of the second half to bump the lead up to nine points at 43-34. Once again, Furman made a run to get as close as two points at 43-41 with 16:05 to play but again Barton drained a three-pointer on the Bulldogs next possession. Katie Agin hit a jumper with 13:30 left to get the Paladins within three points but that was as close as they would get. Asheville scored the next six points to push the lead back to nine points with 11:28 to play and were never threatened again.
Kyla Jones had 11 points and five rebounds and Chioma Okoli added 10 points as the Dogs placed four players in double figures. Ana Baker, the reigning Big South Player of the Week, tied career-highs with 10 assists and eight rebounds.
“This is how we have to play. We did a good job of forcing turnovers and getting easy baskets in the first half and in the second half we drove in and kicked out to Ashton (Barton) for the three-point shot,” said Asheville head coach Betsy Blose. “We have to play up-tempo. Tonight, I though we did a great job of knocking down shots and I thought our defense was good against a solid Furman team.”
Furman was led by Kali Holtfreter with 16 points while Lee Stephens added 11 points. Asheville's pressure defense forced 25 Furman turnovers and held the Paladins to 36 percent shooting from the floor.
Furman out-rebounded Asheville 43-42 but the Dogs had 12 steals and scored 29 points off turnovers including 16 fast break points.
Barton's six made three-pointers were the most since Brittany Hendley made six at Coastal Carolina on Feb. 10 of last season. Ashley Woods also hit six three-pointers against Coastal Carolina on Jan. 12, 1991.
Asheville will travel to Greensboro this weekend for the UNCG Thanksgiving Tournament. The Bulldogs will face North Carolina A&T on Friday at 3 p.m. The game can be heard in the Asheville area on AM-1310 WISE. Saturday the Dogs will face either UNCG or Boston University at either 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.
