University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Women's Basketball Journeys to North Carolina A&T Tonight
11.18.2014 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team begins a tough two-game road trip when the Bulldogs travel to North Carolina A&T on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.
There will be a free audio stream of tonight's game at uncabulldogs.com.
Asheville faces an Aggie team that is the preseason favorite to win the MEAC this year and went 24-7 last season. North Carolina A&T downed the Bulldogs last year at Kimmel Arena, 83-57. The Aggies went to the WNIT last year after winning the regular-season crown in the MEAC.
The Bulldogs look to even their record at 1-1 after falling to East Tennessee State at home Friday night, 81-68. Tianna Knuckles led Asheville with 19 points, while KJ Weaver added 14 points and six rebounds. NCA&T is 1-0 on the season after defeating Navy on Friday, 83-57.
“North Carolina A&T is an extremely good team and will be a great challenge for us on the road. We need to play great defense and sustain intensity for 40 minutes to have an opportunity to win tomorrow tonight,” stated third-year coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick. “Our non-conference schedule is designed to prepare us for what we will face in the Big South this year. Establishing some toughness on the road and throwing some of our younger kids into the fire in tough environments will build character and help us establish our identity going forward. Our kids are taking a mature approach to this tough road stretch and our goal remains the same; to get better with every opportunity.”
Asheville finishes the road trip on Saturday when the Bulldogs make a first-time visit to Tampa to take on South Florida at 2 p.m. The Bulls were in the WNIT last season and defeated North Carolina A&T in the first round of the tournament.
BULLDOG NOTES
UNC Asheville leads the all-time series, 4-3 but the Aggies have won the last three meetings.
Tonight's game is the first of seven the Bulldogs will play against teams that played in the post-season last year.
Tianna Knuckles has scored in double figures in five straight games dating back to last year.
North Carolina A&T is the first of two teams Asheville will play against the MEAC this season. The Bulldogs travel to North Carolina Central on Nov. 28.
Asheville was 3-10 on the road a year.
Senior guard Shonese Jones has scored 1,032 points and is in 13th place on the school's career scoring list.
The Bulldogs won the rebounding battle vs. ETSU with a 38-35 advantage. Asheville also got a strong performance from its bench on Friday as it outscored the Lady Bucs, 35-15 in bench points.
