ASHEVILLE, N.C.?The UNC Asheville women's basketball team will play its final game of the season against High Point on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be video streamed on the Big South Edge for a small fee.
The Bulldogs (9-16, 6-6 Big South) trail the second place Panthers (11-14, 7-5 Big South) by one game in the conference standings.
UNC Asheville will have a short Senior Day ceremony prior to tip-off as Ana Baker and Jessica Monroe will be playing the final home of their Asheville careers. Baker is the school record holder in career steals (253) and the Division I record holder in career assists (387). She leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 13.8 points per game and ranks nationally in assist to turnover ratio, steals, and assists. Monroe has played in 66 consecutive games- the most of any Asheville player. She has three career double-doubles including, a career-high 23 points against High Point last season. Both players have started every game they have played this season.
Baker leads the team in scoring and is third in the Big South at 12.7 points per game. She is the only Asheville player averaging double-figure points. The Bulldogs will get the services of Chioma Okoli back on Saturday. Okoli has missed the last two games serving a suspension. Lindsey Montgomery has had a strong February. In four games this month, she is averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. She had a career-high 28 points and 11 rebounds against Gardner-Webb Monday.
High Point enters today game trying to snap a three-game losing streak. The Panthers are just holding on to second place in the Big South. They have a half game lead over Coastal, Radford, and Winthrop. Jurica Hargraves leads three Panthers who average double-figure points. She is scoring 12.7 points a game. Shamia Brown is scoring 11.8 points and Mackenzie Maier chips in 10.6 points per game. High Point leads the league in blocked shots at 4.9 per game and rebounding at 41.5 per game.
High Point leads the all-time series 20-9 but the series has been highlighted by close contests. Over the last five years, HPU holds an 8-5 edge with eight of the 13 games decided by eight points or less. The two teams have split each of the last three years.
High Point won the season's first meeting 59-51 at home.
UNC Asheville will be without the service of Kyla Jones who was dismissed from the team on Feb. 19, for violation of team rules.
The Bulldogs will play their final three regular season games on the road beginning with conference leading Liberty on Feb. 28.
