University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Furman
Bulldogs Top Furman to Tie Best Start in Program History
12.18.2015 | Women's Basketball
THE RUNDOWN
Score: Asheville 84 – Furman 71
Teams: Asheville (9-1, 2-0 BSC)
Furman (6-5, 0-0 SoCon)
Location: Kimmel Arena/Asheville, N.C.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team tied a program-best start to a season as the Bulldogs won their ninth game in a row and improved to 9-1 on the season with an 84-71 victory over Furman on Friday morning in front of over 1,500 elementary school students on Education Day in Kimmel Arena.
The 9-1 start to open the season continues as the best mark in Asheville's NCAA Division I Era, and ties the 9-1 open of the 1984-85 team from the program's NAIA days as the best start to a campaign in program history.
THE TURNING POINT
After jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead, Asheville led Furman for the duration of the game. Although it was close throughout, Furman was unable to tie or take the lead as the Bulldogs held control all afternoon.
NOTABLES
-Asheville had five players in double-digits in today's win over Furman. Leading the way for the Bulldogs offense was Tianna Knuckles with 14 points, Ja'Da Brayboy with 12, Chatori Major and K.J. Weaver each with 11, and Bre Fitzgerald had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 points. As a team, Asheville shot 41 percent from the field.
-The Bulldogs pulled down 47 total rebounds, 32 on the defensive end and 15 offensive boards that led to 14 second chance points. Fitzgerald led the team in rebounds with 10, closely followed by Major and Weaver each with six.
-Asheville showed off their depth on offense in the second half where they scored 20 points off the bench. The Bulldogs produced a total of 30 points off the bench to Furman's two points.
-In their 13-point win, the Bulldogs outscored Furman in every quarter by a margin of four or greater except for the third, where Furman outscored Asheville 26-24.
QUOTABLES FROM HEAD COACH BRENDA MOCK
On Furman- “Today's game was a hard fought effort by our girls. Furman is a very good team, they were picked second in their league this year in a very competitive Southern Conference. They have very talented and capable players, and they play really well on the offensive side of the ball.”
On the Win- “Credit to our team, we just outlasted them, and in the end we had the confidence that we could do that. I didn't see any doubt creep into our kid's minds when Furman was making their run in the fourth quarter. They knew that we were going to win that ballgame, and they made that happen.”
On the Dogs- “The depth is everything (for us). A lot of people key in on top scorers like Tianna Knuckles or Chatori Major, and that's ok with us. That opens us up to get the ball inside, or for the other girls to attack and make plays. Having that kind of depth is what our team is based on.”
UP NEXT
-Following today's win, Asheville will look to make program history on Monday afternoon when the Bulldogs make the short trip south to take on the Clemson Tigers. Tipoff is scheduled for noon.
