Women's Basketball Travels to Furman Wednesday Night

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team begins a two-game road trip Wednesday night when the Bulldogs travel to SoCon foe Furman at Timmons Arena starting at 7 p.m.

Asheville (2-5) hopes to put behind a disappointing 70-52 home loss to Wofford Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs shot just 34 percent (20-of-59) from the field and 11 percent (2-of-18) from the three-point line against the Terriers.

The Blue & White will have a tough test against the Paladins. Furman has won three straight and has a 7-3 worksheet in the early part of the year. They've posted impressive wins over fellow Big South schools Winthrop (73-55) and Coastal Carolina (90-56).

"We are looking forward to our match-up against Furman, and I have no doubt they will be ready for us after last year's dramatic finish in the game at our place,” stated Bulldog coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick. “Furman is playing extremely well and are tough at all five positions. Furman was picked to finish second but have the talent and capability to compete for the SoCon championship in March. These are the types of games that are going to prepare us for Big South play."

The Bulldogs opened last season with a dramatic victory over the Paladins when Paige Love sank a half-court shot as the buzzer sounded giving Asheville a 69-66 win. The shot was featured on ESPN's SportsCenter the next day.

Senior guard Shonese Jones leads the Bulldogs in scoring with a 9.7 average. Tianna Knuckles follows with an 8.3 mark. Senior forward Jeannie Bucker tops Asheville in rebounding with a 7.1 average.

The Bulldogs will stay on the road this weekend when Asheville travels to Longwood for its second Big South Conference game Sunday at 2 p.m. Kirkpatrick's club is 1-0 in league play after opening BSC play with a 56-47 victory vs. Charleston Southern on Dec. 1.

Asheville returns home next week on Wednesday, Dec. 17 when the Bulldogs host Western Carolina at Kimmel Arena for Education Day with a matinee starting time of 11:30 a.m.

BULLDOG NOTES

UNC Asheville is 2-2 in its last four games.

Shonese Jones is tied for 11^th all-time at Asheville in career points with 1,095 points. Her next point will move her past former Bulldog great Tonisha Jackson into 11^th place.

The Bulldogs are 0-3 on the road this season.

Furman is the third of four teams Asheville will play in the SoCon this season. The Bulldogs have lost at home to ETSU and Wofford and will play Western Carolina next week at Kimmel Arena.

Jeannie Bucker has led Asheville in rebounding in five of the last six games. She pulled down a career-high 14 vs. Barton (11-24).

The Bulldogs have forced their last three opponents into 63 turnovers.