University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Winthrop
Women's Basketball Drops League Game at Winthrop
01.08.2015 | Women's Basketball
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Three UNC Asheville Bulldogs scored in double-figures, but it was not enough to overcome the Winthrop Eagles who grabbed a 75-55 win on Thursday evening at the Winthrop Coliseum.
Asheville falls to 3-11 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while Winthrop improves to 8-6 on the year and 4-1 in league play. The Bulldogs ended the game shooting just 28.1 percent from the field, while the Eagles finished with a field goal percentage of 45.9 percent for the game.
“We played a tough first half with the exception of turning the ball over nine times” said head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick. “In the second half we never got started. They threw the first punch and we didn't buckle down, stay disciplined and play possession basketball. Hugely disappointed to be a tale of two halves. The kids know they can do a better job as does the coaching staff. That is what we will focus on, deciding and then doing. It will come.”
In a tightly contested first half, the score was tied twice and changed hands eight times with the Eagles taking a 32-30 lead into the halftime break.
The Bulldogs had a balanced effort offensively in the first half with seven playing registering a bucket. Shonese Jones led the way with eight first half points, while Tianna Knuckles chipped in seven.
Knuckles' first bucket of the game came on a three from the left corner which gave the Blue & White its first lead of the game at 10-9 with 16:29 left to play in the half. Following a bucket by Winthrop's Erica Williams, Knuckles helped Asheville grab the lead back, going to coast-to-coast after she stole the ball from Williams and converted at the hoop with a layup.
Winthrop threatened to opening things up following a 6-0 run which gave the Eagles a 19-14 lead, but the Bulldogs were able to answer, scoring three of the next four buckets and converting two free throws to take a 23-21 advantage with 5:43 left in the half. Bronaza Fitzgerald sparked the Asheville run, converting a three-point play before Jones and Knuckles each added buckets.
Nine straight points, including a pair of buckets from Williams who posted a game-high 22 points, pushed Winthrop back out in front. As it did the entire half, Asheville answered, closing the half on a 7-2 run to narrow the Winthrop lead to two points at the half.
The Bulldogs finished the half 4-of-9 from long range and 11-of-29 from the field. Winthrop knocked down 15 field goals on 34 attempts in the half but only one from three-point range. Both teams grabbed 20 first half rebounds.
A 22-6 over the first 9:03 of the second half allowed Winthrop to open up a 54-36 lead. Williams (22) and center Schauilla Nunn (18), the two leading scorers on the night for the Eagles, scored 12 points during the stretch, while Zoe Vernon added six.
Asheville post players KJ Weaver and Fitzgerald accounted for 11 second half points for the Bulldogs who were held to just 20 percent shooting (7-of-35) in the second half. Winthrop finished the game with a 51-35 advantage on the boards and out-scored the Blue & White 32-20 in the paint.
Jones led the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 points, while Knuckles (11) and Fitzgerald (10) joined her in double-figures. Weaver led the team in rebounding pulling down nine rebounds in the contest. Williams led all scorers with 22 points for the Eagles and Nunn added 18 and a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Buies Creek to face the Camels of Campbell University, tip-time is set for 1:00 p.m.
