ASHEVILLE, N.C.?UNC Asheville's women's basketball team takes the court on Saturday afternoon against Winthrop at 2 p.m. in the Justice Center. The game will be video streamed on www.bigsouthsports.com for a small fee.
The Bulldogs (7-13, 4-3 Big South) will attempt to end a two-game conference losing streak. Ana Baker leads Asheville in scoring at 11.5 points per game. She enters Saturday's match-up six steals shy of the Asheville career steals record. Vicki Giffin (1994-97) holds the record with 244 career steals.
Linda Aughburns is coming off her first career double-double as she scored 10 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against High Point Monday night. She was the first Bulldog since Lindsey Montgomery last season to grab 15 rebounds in a game. She is the 33rd Bulldog player to grab 15 or more boards in the game since 1990.
Winthrop (7-11, 2-4 Big South) is coming off a 73-42 loss at Georgia State Tuesday night. The Eagles are led by Ashley Fann who is averaging 11.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Second leading scorer Tiffany Rodd has missed the last six games. The Eagles are just 1-5 in those six. Winthrop is last in the Big South in field goal percentage (34.5%), three-point field goal percentage (26.6%), and is eighth in scoring, averaging at 50.1 points per game. The Eagles lead the Big South in free throw percentage at 67.8 percent and are second in the league in scoring defense allowing just 55.2 points per game.
UNC Asheville holds a slim 27-26 lead in the all-time series against Winthrop. The Bulldogs have faced the Eagles more than any other opponent. Coach Blose has beaten Winthrop more than any other opponent owning a 9-4 mark against the Eagles. Last season the two teams split their regular season meetings with each team winning on the road.
Saturday's game is UNC Asheville Annual NCAA Women's Basketball Take a Kid to the Game Day. Area youth eighth grade and under are invited to attend this special event and receive a free ticket with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket. Youth will have the opportunity to experience the college game-day atmosphere and some exciting action as they watch UNC Asheville and Winthrop.
UNC Asheville is hosting one of more than 700 games that will be played across the nation as part of the Take a Kid to the Game program in its 14th season. Tickets for this special game can be purchased at the UNC Asheville ticket office at 828-251-6904 or uncabulldogs.com
Take a Kid to the Game is a grassroots marketing campaign created by IMG College to encourage alumni and fans to take their kids out to arenas to experience intercollegiate athletics.
