University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
North Carolina Central
Late Run Leads N.C. Central Past Bulldogs
11.28.2014 | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central closed the game on a 19-0 run over the final 3:27 to defeat UNC Asheville, 55-52 on Friday afternoon at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.
Asheville (1-4) opened up a 52-36 lead, following three consecutive layups by KJ Weaver, to give the Bulldogs the largest lead for either team (16) with 3:32 left to play in the contest. The bucket would prove to be the last points of the game for Asheville.
Racquel Davis, who scored 11 of her game-high 18 points in the final 3:27 of the game, started the run for North Carolina Central (2-4) by knocking down one of two free throws following Weaver's fifth foul.
The Eagles forced Asheville into eight turnovers in the final moments of the game to turn things in favor of North Carolina Central who scored 29 points-off-turnovers on the afternoon.
The Bulldogs gained their 16 point advantage on the strength of a 12-0 run after Central had cut Asheville's nine point halftime lead to four at 38-34 with 8:51 left to play in the second half. During the run, AVL forced four turnovers and converted six layups.
Tianna Knuckles opened the run after curling into the lane from the left elbow and converting with the right hand. Tiffany Wilson followed with a back-to-back layups, before Shonese Jones finished on a run-out layup in transition. Weaver closed out the 12 point spurt with three straight layups.
Asheville took a 29-20 lead into the half , after taking advantage of an 11-0 run which gave the Bulldogs a 20-11 lead with 6:08 to play in the first half. Tacey Trammell and Jones each kncoked down a three during the five and a half minute stretch.
Freshman Bronaza Fitzgerald contributed to the offensive output in the first half, scoring on three straight possessions for Asheville. Fitzgerald led all scorers going into the intermission in just three minutes of action off the bench.
Fitzgerald (6), Weaver (7) and Wilson (8) combined to score 21 of the 32-24 advantage on points-in-the-paint for the Bulldogs. Knuckles tied Wilson with a team-high eight points, while Jeannie Buckner recorded a team-best eight rebounds and six assists.
Davis led the Eagles in scoring with 18 and added a game-high 17 rebounds and five steals, while Khyra Conerly added 15 points. North Carolina Central controlled the glass by out-rebounding Asheville 44-32 and 17-8 on the offensive boards.
The Bulldogs return home to open Big South play on Monday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m. when they entertain Charleston Southern at Kimmel Arena.
