Baker Hits Game Winner Against Radford

ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? Ana Baker's contested two-point shot with three seconds remaining in the game lifted the UNC Asheville Bulldogs to a 52-50 victory over the visiting Radford Highlanders on Saturday afternoon.

With 28 seconds remaining in the game, Radford's Taleia Morton scored a lay-up that tied the score at 50-50.

On the next possession, Baker dribbled the ball in the backcourt until the clock ticked below 15 seconds. The senior guard from Odenton, Md. then raced up the court and knocked a 12-foot jumper over two Radford defenders.

Baker led the Bulldogs (7-11, 4-1 Big South) with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists. Jessica Monroe added 11 points and eight rebounds. Linda Aughburns pulled down a career-high 11 boards.

Radford (3-12, 2-2 Big South) was paced by Moton's 15 points. Denay Woods recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Johnette Walker added 12 points, nine rebounds, and six steals.

The Bulldogs led by as many as nine points in the first half, but the Highlanders closed the margin to two at the end of the half.

Asheville shot 48 percent from the floor in the opening half to Radford's 42 percent. Both teams went cold in the second stanza. Asheville shot 27 percent from the floor in the second half to finish the game at 38 percent. It was the first time this season the Bulldogs won a game with a field goal percentage less than 40 percent. Radford shot 26 percent in the second half to finish at 34 percent from the floor.

In the second half, the Bulldogs had ample opportunity to extend their lead at the free throw line, but only hit 4 of 13 foul shots. Radford also had a forgettable day at the foul line, shooting 4-14 on the game.

“It was a team effort,” said Baker. “Everyone put in their effort and worked hard to get offensive and defensive rebounds.”

“It is always a battle when we play Radford,” said Asheville head coach Betsy Blose. “This was an ugly game in the second half but both teams played solid defense and Ana hit a big shot.”

Big shots have been a highlight of Baker's career at UNC Asheville. She hit a game-winning three-pointer at High Point exactly two years ago today on January 17, 2007.

Asheville held a 46-42 lead with 6:15 to play. Lay-ups by Kymesha Alston and Moton tied the game at 46 all with 5:38 to play. Those would be the last points for Radford for the next 5:10. A Chioma Okoli basket at the 5:11 mark gave Asheville a 48-46 lead and would be the Bulldogs' last basket before Baker's heroics.

Over the final five minutes the teams would combine to go 0-for-12 from the floor before Moton's basket with 28 seconds remaining.

The win is UNC Asheville's third in a row. The last time the Bulldogs won three consecutive games was in the 2007 Big South Tournament.

On Monday night, the Bulldogs will wrap up their five-game home stand against the Liberty Flames at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on SportsSouth.

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Players Mentioned

Linda Aughburns

Ana Baker

Jessica Monroe

Chioma Okoli

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics