ASHEVILLE, N.C.?UNC Asheville's women's basketball team will attempt to end a three-game losing streak as it travels to Presbyterian Saturday afternoon in a 2 p.m. game. The game can be heard live on the internet at uncabulldogs.com.
Both UNC Asheville (7-8) and Presbyterian (1-15) are coming off losses to talented SEC opponents. Asheville fell 80-52 on Thursday at South Carolina while Presbyterian dropped a 93-49 decision at Georgia on Wednesday.
Asheville will be playing without two starters on Saturday as leading scorer Ashton Barton and Lindsey Montgomery both suffered injuries in Thursday night's game and are not expected to play. Freshmen Kendall Shepard and Arescia Moore will replace them in the line-up. Moore will be making her first career start. She had a season high 10 points in the first meeting with Presbyterian at the Justice Center.
Bulldog post players will need to play well. Jessica Monroe is averaging 9.5 points per game and Stacy Shepard averages 7.2 points and 8.9 rebounds. Kiana Rainey has played well off the bench for Asheville as she had a season-high eight points at South Carolina.
The Blue Hose play at home for just the third of five times this season. Sharie Hopkins leads the team in scoring at 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She had a team-high 18 against Asheville in the first meeting. Katlin Moore is scoring 9.4 points while Amy Jones chips in 8.7 ppg. PC is averaging 51.5 points per game and are being out rebounded by 14.5 rebounds per game.
Asheville has won both previous meetings including an 87-54 victory at the Justice Center on Dec. 8. Saturday's game will be the first played between the two schools in Clinton. PC will join the Big South next season be will not be eligible for postseason until 2010.
