University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Newberry
Women's Basketball Falls to Newberry 66-53
11.14.2009 | Women's Basketball
The game was an exhibition game for Newberry, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-1 on the season.
Asheville had a miserable day shooting the basketball as it shot just 31 percent (18-of-58) from the field and five percent (1-of-20) from the three point-line.
The Bulldogs were led by Lindsey Montgomery as the junior forward scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Chioma Okolia added 13 points. Kiana Rainey pumped in 10 points and collected eight rebounds.
"Newberry is a very good team, and I thought they played great today," commented Asheville coach Betsy Blose. "We let our struggles on offense effect us on defense.
"We just didn't have much of an answer for Newberry's inside game," added Blose. "We also didn't get much out of our guard play tonight. We'll keep working and get better.
"On the positive side, Lindsey Montgomery did a great job off the bench today and really led us," commented Blose. "I also thought Kiana Rainey played her heart out and gave us a great deal out there today."
Newberry got a nice game from point guard Jessica Bearzatto who had 11 assists on the day along with seven points.
The visitors took the lead for good early in the game when went on a 9-0 to race to a 13-5 lead. McKinney began the run with five points and two inside baskets from Bulcher gave Newberry the early lead.
The Bulldogs shot 24 percent (7-of-29) from the field in the opening half and did not make a three-pointer (0-of-11). Newberry led 27-17 at halftime.
Newberry led 42-26 on a Bearzatto lay-up with 15:10 left before Asheville made its one run to get back in the game. The Bulldogs chipped away behind the play of Montgomery and Rainey to cut the lead to 53-47 with 5:10 left on a free throw from Breaira Barksdale.
But Newberry scored the next 10 points, getting buckets from four different players and two free throws from Amy Browne to lead 63-47 at the two-minute mark. The Bulldogs missed eight straight shots during the Newberry run, including six 3-pointers.
UNC Asheville plays next at South Carolina State Tuesday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.
