University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
Baker Sets Assists Record as Bulldogs Down Gardner-Webb, 67-59
01.10.2009 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? Senior guard Ana Baker broke the UNC Asheville Division I career assists record as the Bulldogs defeated Gardner-Webb 67-59 at the Justice Center on Saturday.
Baker who played all 40 minutes led the Bulldogs with 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. She entered the game only needing two assists to pass Vicki Giffin (1993-1997) for first place on the Bulldogs all-time Division I assists list. She broke the record 16 minutes into the game as she fed Linda Aughburns for an open jumper.
Lindsey Montgomery had her first double-double of the season with 12 points while matching her career-high with 11 rebounds. Lindsey Thompson added 10 points for Asheville while Chioma Okoli just missed double figures with nine points and six rebounds.
UNC Asheville (5-11, 2-1 Big South) held the lead for the entire game, but the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb (7-8, 0-3 Big South) kept it close. In the first half, the Bulldogs led by as much as nine points until Gardner-Webb brought the score to 30-33 at the end of the half.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 17 in the second half, but they could not bring the margin any higher as they only shot 12-25 in the game from the free-throw line.
With less than five minutes to go in the contest, Gardner-Webb started to cut into UNC Asheville's lead. However, their effort was not enough as they could only get to within seven points of the Bulldogs with 17 seconds left in the game.
“There are no easy games in the Big South,” said head coach Betsy Blose. “Gardner-Webb made a game out of it, but Ana Baker put the team on her back and led us to the victory.”
Teonika Webb led Gardner-Webb with 11 points and nine rebounds while Laura Povilonyte had 10 points and seven rebounds. LaTroya Pope added eight points and 11 rebounds before fouling out of the game with 1:33 left in the game.
The Bulldogs return to action at home on Monday night at 7 p.m. as they host the Blue Hose of Presbyterian.
