University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Barton
Bulldogs Get First Win with 71-48 Victory over Barton
11.24.2014 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Shonese Jones scored 22 points, and Jeannie Buckner pulled down a career-best 14 rebounds as UNC Asheville won its first game of the season with a 71-48 victory over visiting Barton College Monday night at Kimmel Arena.
The Bulldogs (1-3) led most of the way in a game that started a half-hour late due to bus trouble by Barton (1-4).
Also scoring in double figures for Asheville was KJ Weaver with 12 points, while Brittany Gwyn added 11 points and four steals. Ja'Da Brayboy sparked the Dogs off the bench with eight points and three assists.
Barton was led by Alexis Johnson with 12 points and seven rebounds. Kaila Lea added 11 points.
The Bulldogs took control of the game midway through the first half as the home team scored 14 straight points to build a 30-13 lead. Barton missed 10 straight shots during the Asheville run as five different players scored for the Blue & White.
Asheville led 34-18 at halftime as the Bulldog defense limited the visitors to 14.8 percent shooting (4-of-27) from the field. The home team was 18-of-23 from the charity stripe in the opening half.
In the second half, Asheville led 45-23 on a Jones lay-up before Barton rallied. The visitors carved into the Bulldog lead and crept to 55-46 on a Johnson steal and lay-up with 5:36 left.
But the Blue & White responded with a three-point play from Jones and Weaver to build the lead to 61-46. Barton could get no closer the rest of the game as Asheville scored the final 10 points of the contest.
UNC Asheville plays next at North Carolina Central Friday at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs open Big South Conference play a week from tonight (Dec. 1) at home against Charleston Southern starting at 7 p.m.
