ROCK HILL, S.C.? Ashton Barton hit the go ahead three-pointer with 1:37 left to play and UNC Asheville survived a last second shot to tie the game as the Bulldogs held on to a 63-60 victory at Winthrop in its regular season finale.
Barton and Ana Baker led Asheville (12-17, 3-9 Big South) with 18 points while Jessica Monroe added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs who won their final two road games of the season.
Shanice Cole led Winthrop (19-11, 7-5 Big South) with 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Ashley Haughtvedt chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds. The Lady Eagles held a 36-2 advantage in points off the bench.
Winthrop scored the first basket of the game before Asheville went on a 14-0 run to take its largest lead of the game 14-2 at the 15:17 mark of the first half. Winthrop responded with a 14-2 run to tie the game at 16 with 10:41 left in the period. The Lady Eagles outscored the Bulldogs 17-14 the rest of the half to take a 33-30 halftime lead.
Asheville opened the second half with the first six points to take a 36-33 lead before Winthrop went on a 10-0 run to take its largest lead 43-36 with 12:59 left in the game.
Baker made a steal and converted on the other end to tie the game 52-52 at the 4:41 mark. Ashley Fann scored to put Winthrop up two before Baker had another theft and basket to tie the game for the sixth time. Barton's third three-pointer of the game but the Bulldogs up for good with 1:37 left to play.Franchesca Davenport scored with 1:18 left to play to make it a one-point game. Baker drained a jumper with 44 seconds and Barton connected with two free throws with 31 second left to put the Dogs up five at 61-56.
Winthrop trimmed the lead to 63-60 with 3.4 seconds and had the ball on the inline. Fann's baseball pass went out of bounce untouched and Asheville had the game all nut wrapped up but Baker's in-bounce pass was intercepted and Davenport's last second three-pointer hit the back iron and bounced out.
Asheville shot 42.8 percent from the floor and shot 4-for-9 from three-point range. The Dogs shot 17-of-24 from the foul line while Winthrop went to charity stripe 12 times. Winthrop held a 42-30 rebounding advantage but Asheville had a 24-17 lead in points off turnovers.
Both teams will compete in the Advance Auto Parts Big South Tournament that will begin at the Justice Center in Asheville on March 14.
