UNC Asheville Women's Basketball Hosts Coastal Carolina on Saturday

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville women's basketball team is home Saturday afternoon against Big South foe Coastal Carolina at Kimmel Arena starting at 2 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on WPEK (880-AM) radio with the pre-game show starting at 1:45 p.m. The game will also be video-streamed at www.uncabulldogs.com.

Asheville (4-9, 0-2 BSC) is looking for its first Big South Conference win on Saturday in its first ever league game at the new Kimmel Arena. CCU is 9-2 on the season and 2-0 in BSC action. The Bulldogs fell to Campbell Monday night on the road, 82-62. Asheville fell behind by 20 points in the first half before making some spirited rallies in the second half.

"We just got too far behind at Campbell but I was really proud of the way we fought back in the second half and made things interesting," commented Bulldog coach Betsy Blose. "Saturday is a new challenge against Coastal Carolina. They're much improved from last year, and we know how well-coached they are by Alan LeForce. Our team needs to be ready to play well for 40 minutes on Saturday."

Freshman guard Shonese Jones continues to have a great rookie year for the Bulldogs. The Etowah native is averaging 14.1 points per game and was named Freshman of the Week on Tuesday by the Big South Conference. Kelli Riles continues her good work on the boards as she's averaging 11.3 rebounds per game, fifth best in the nation.

This will be the 55^th meeting between Asheville and Coastal Carolina with each team winning 27 times. The Bulldogs won both games last year against the Chanticleers, winning 65-53 in Conway and 67-64 in the final women's game ever played at Justice Center.

BULLDOG NOTES

UNC Asheville is 4-2 at Kimmel Arena this season.

The Bulldogs have not lost to Coastal Carolina in Asheville since a 73-61 regular-season loss to the Chanticleers in the 2006-07 season. Asheville defeated CCU 65-51 later that year in the quarterfinals of the BSC Tournament at Justice Center.

Asheville has three players averaging in double figures in scoring. Shonese Jones is at 14.1 points per game. Lindsey Thompson is at 11.2 points per game, while Brittany Gwyn has a 10.3 average.

Kelli Riles leads the Big South in rebounding with an 11.3 mark, while senior guard Lindsey Thompson leads in free throw shooting at .875 (35-of-40).

Kelli Riles has five double-doubles on the season. She has collected 581 career rebounds and is 10^th all-time in career rebounds at Asheville. Riles needs six to move past Sheena West (586) into ninth place.