University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Tuesday, November 23
Asheville, NC
7 p.m.
UNC Asheville
95
vs
76
USC Upstate
Thompson Goes For 26, Bulldogs Upend USC Upstate
11.23.2010 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Junior guard Lindsey Thompson scored a career-high 26 points while fellow Bulldog Kendall Shepard tied her career-high for assists with eight as the UNC Asheville women's basketball team earned a 95-76 victory over USC Upstate on Tuesday evening at the Justice Center.
Four Bulldogs scored in double figures including Shepard who scored 19 for the second consecutive game. Breaira Barksdale scored 15 to go along with her six assists and Kelli Riles scored 12 while leading the team in rebounds with eight. Asheville improves to 3-1 on the season with the win.
“We really raised the tempo in the game and took them out of what they wanted to do,” said Asheville head coach Betsy Blose. “We got contributions from so many people. Lindsey Thompson is getting better and better each week and all of the kids are starting to buy into our style of play.”
USC Upstate was led by Asheville native and former T.C. Roberson standout Tee'Ara Copney, who finished the contest with 21 points. Madisen Webb posted 18 points and nine rebounds for the Spartans, who fall to 1-2 on the year.
The two teams traded the lead back-and-forth early before Barksdale hit a layup to give the Bulldogs the lead at 18-16 with 12:56 remaining in the first half. Over the rest of the frame Asheville gradually extended its lead, taking a 51-40 lead into halftime.
Thompson scored 21 of her 26 points in the first half, including converting 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point line. Webb posted 13 of her 18 points in the first period to lead all Spartans.
Upstate came out firing in the second half and pulled to within six points of the Bulldogs in just 41 seconds. The Blue & White regrouped and extended its lead, only to have Copney pull the Spartan within six again at the 18:21 mark.
However, the Spartans' rally was short lived as the Bulldogs never let Upstate get within 10 points of their lead over the final 17 minutes, with Asheville leading by as much as 25 at one point.
The Bulldogs' defense was stout in the second half, forcing 16 turnovers by the Spartans.
“We played zone defense the entire game,” added Blose. “That may be the first time I've ever played zone an entire game.”
The 95 points scored by the Bulldogs was the most scored since Dec. 11, 2009, when Asheville scored 94 against Southern Wesleyan in a victory at the Justice Center.
Four Bulldogs scored in double figures including Shepard who scored 19 for the second consecutive game. Breaira Barksdale scored 15 to go along with her six assists and Kelli Riles scored 12 while leading the team in rebounds with eight. Asheville improves to 3-1 on the season with the win.
“We really raised the tempo in the game and took them out of what they wanted to do,” said Asheville head coach Betsy Blose. “We got contributions from so many people. Lindsey Thompson is getting better and better each week and all of the kids are starting to buy into our style of play.”
USC Upstate was led by Asheville native and former T.C. Roberson standout Tee'Ara Copney, who finished the contest with 21 points. Madisen Webb posted 18 points and nine rebounds for the Spartans, who fall to 1-2 on the year.
The two teams traded the lead back-and-forth early before Barksdale hit a layup to give the Bulldogs the lead at 18-16 with 12:56 remaining in the first half. Over the rest of the frame Asheville gradually extended its lead, taking a 51-40 lead into halftime.
Thompson scored 21 of her 26 points in the first half, including converting 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point line. Webb posted 13 of her 18 points in the first period to lead all Spartans.
Upstate came out firing in the second half and pulled to within six points of the Bulldogs in just 41 seconds. The Blue & White regrouped and extended its lead, only to have Copney pull the Spartan within six again at the 18:21 mark.
However, the Spartans' rally was short lived as the Bulldogs never let Upstate get within 10 points of their lead over the final 17 minutes, with Asheville leading by as much as 25 at one point.
The Bulldogs' defense was stout in the second half, forcing 16 turnovers by the Spartans.
“We played zone defense the entire game,” added Blose. “That may be the first time I've ever played zone an entire game.”
The 95 points scored by the Bulldogs was the most scored since Dec. 11, 2009, when Asheville scored 94 against Southern Wesleyan in a victory at the Justice Center.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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