ASHEVILLE, N.C.?The UNC Asheville women's basketball team will travel to South Carolina for a 7 p.m. game against the Gamecocks on Thursday. The game can be heard live on the internet at uncabulldogs.com.
UNC Asheville dropped both games at the Florida State Farm Classic over the weekend. The Bulldogs could not put two good halves together in either contest falling behind by 12 at halftime against Alabama A&M before making a furious second half comeback to fall 66-63. In the consolation game, Asheville played an outstanding first half shooting 46 percent and took a three-point lead into half before shooting just 28 percent in the second half and seeing Holy Cross win 79-60.
Ashton Barton scored 15 points for the Dogs in both games and was named to the All-Tournament team. Chioma Okoli scored a season-high 16 points against Holy Cross and had season highs in rebounds and assists against A&M. Kiana Rainey has been a spark off the bench for Asheville as she had six points and seven rebounds in the game against A&M. Asheville is 1-6 away from the Justice Center this season.
The Gamecocks are 9-4 on the season after falling 95-63 at Oklahoma on Dec. 30. USC is 7-1 this season at home winning by 28 points per game at the Colonial Center. The Gamecocks have four players who average double-figure points led by Jordan James who is scoring 13.5 ppg, Demeress Adams is scoring 12.3 points and grabbing 8.2 boards per game. Brionna Dickerson adds 10.8 points while Lakesha Tolliver chips in 10.3 ppg. USC averages 69.8 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the floor while holding opponents to 35 percent from the floor.
The only previous meeting between South Carolina and Asheville came back on Dec. 5. 1998. The Gamecocks won 80-40 in Columbia. Asheville is 0-13 all-time against teams from the SEC. The last SEC opponent was LSU in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas.
