University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs To Face Coastal Carolina In Big South Showdown
01.14.2011 | Women's Basketball
CONWAY, S.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team will take on Big South Conference foe Coastal Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Kimbel Arena on the campus of the Chanticleers in a pivotal matchup for both squads.
The Bulldogs have dropped three consecutive games to start Big South play while Coastal is 0-2 in conference. The two teams split a pair of matchups last season with each winning on their home court.
“This is going to be a physical game and we have to match Coastal's energy on the floor tomorrow,” said Asheville head coach Betsy Blose. “On our end we must put two halves of basketball together if we're going to have a chance. It's going to take a full 40-minute effort on our part.”
Asheville started the season 7-4 but now sits at 7-7 since beginning league play. However, the Bulldogs' offense still ranks first in the Big South in scoring as Kendall Shepard, Lindsey Thompson and Kelli Riles are all ranked in the top 10 in the league in points per game.
Riles also leads the league in rebounding, as the sophomore forward is averaging a double-double on the season.
Coastal Carolina's Sydnei Moss, who was named to the Big South preseason all-conference first team, will make her return to the court since suffering an injury in the fourth minute of the 70-62 victory over USC Upstate on Dec. 30, 2010. Despite her absence on the court, Moss remains in the top 15 in the Big South in scoring as she averaged 10.2 points per game before her injury.
Junior Olivia Irick is having a break out season for the Chanticleers. The guard, who played an average of 17.2 minutes per game over her first two seasons, has solidified herself in head coach Alan LeForce's starting lineup. She is currently Coastal's leading scorer averaging 10.5 points per game. Her 14.5 points per game in Big South play places her second on the conference scoring list.
GAME NOTES
• The Bulldogs have not won a game in Conway against the Chanticleers since the 2006-07 season, when Asheville won the Big South Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Coastal 76-46 on Feb. 10, with Brittany Hendley scoring a game-high 20 points for the Blue & White.
• RILED UP: UNC Asheville's KELLI RILES has established herself as the League's top rebounder this season. She is ranked No. 1 in the League and No. 5 on the Big South single-season list with 10.9 boards per contest and has went for double-digits in eight games this season. She has posted a Big South seasonhigh 16 rebounds on Dec. 15 and posted three-straight games with at least 10 boards twice this season. She is the only player in the Big South averaging a double-double as she averages 12.4 points per contest.
• Asheville currently leads the Big South in scoring offense averaging 70.6 points per game and fi eld goal percentage with a mark of .408.
• Senior guard Kendall Shepard is currently tied for the league-lead in scoring averaging 14.4 ppg. Lindsey Thompson (6th) and Kelli Riles (8th) are also in the top 10 in the league in scoring, giving Asheville three players in the top 10 in scoring.
• This game marks the fi rst road contest of 2011 for UNC Asheville. The Bulldogs last away game was against North Carolina Central on Dec. 29, 2010. The Bulldogs won 67-56 in the contest against the Eagles.
Players Mentioned
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