University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Longwood
Late Rally Propels Bulldogs to Double-Overtime Win
02.05.2015 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Shonese Jones scored all 17 of her points in the final two minutes of regulation and two overtimes periods as UNC Asheville rallied for a wild 88-77 Big South Conference double-overtime victory over visiting Longwood Thursday night at Kimmel Arena.
Jones led five Asheville players in double figures. Tianna Knuckles added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Paige Love finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Freshman Khaila Webb and Brayboy each scored 10 points for the Blue & White. KJ Weaver collected a career-high 16 rebounds and tied a career-high with five blocked shots.
The hard-luck Lancers (3-20, 3-11 BSC) were led by a game-high 25 points from Raven Williams. Deborah Headen chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds. Brenna Robbins contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
Longwood has been hit hard with injuries all year and only dressed nine players. One of their top rebounders Kyndal Skersick went down with an injury early in the game and missed most of the contest. She entered the game in overtime for Brenna Robbins, who was hurt and had to come out of the game. Skersick knocked down two free throws for Robbins and then came out.
The Bulldogs (7-16, 6-8 BSC), also missing two starters out with injuries, trailed by eight with 30 seconds left in regulation but went on a 9-1 run over the final 30 seconds to tie the game at 62-62 when Ja'Da Brayboy scored on a lay-up at the 4.5 mark.
In the first overtime period, Asheville appeared to good shape leading 70-65 on a lay-up from Tiffany Wilson at the 2:14 mark. But the Bulldogs never scored again. Skersick's two free throws cut the lead to 70-67 at 1:49.
The teams traded misses and Williams tied the contest when she drained a long three-pointer at the 45-second mark to knot the game at 70-70.
Longwood got a stop and had a chance to win the game. Headen came down with the Bulldog miss and drove for the winning shot but her 10-footer was contested and fell short.
In the second overtime period, Longwood scored the first four points and led 76-72 with 3:30 left on a Headen bucket. But that was the Lancers last field goal of the game.
Asheville scored the next 12 points and outscored the visitors, 16-1 the rest of the way. Jones led the way with eight points. She knocked two treys and her second one gave the Blue & White an 80-76 lead at the 1:06 mark.
The senior guard had missed her first seven shots of the game and had not scored until she knocked down a three-pointer with 1:47 left to help spark the Bulldogs comeback.
Asheville led 29-22 late in the first half on a trey from Knuckles only to see Longwood hold the Bulldogs scoreless the remainder of the way and hit two late treys in the final minute to carve the lead to 29-28.
The Lancers continued the momentum early in the second half as Williams scored eight point to lead a 10-2 run to push Longwood in front, 39-31.
Asheville shot just 27 percent in the second half (10-of-27) as the Lancers appeared poised to pull out the win before the Bulldogs pressure defense and some missed free throws allowed the home team to tie the game.
Trailing 61-53, Knuckles hit two free throws at the 29-second mark to make it 61-55. The Bulldogs forced a turnover. Love found Jones open in the right corner. She knocked down her second trey to make it 61-58.
Another turnover led to two free throws from Weaver to make it 61-60 at the 14-second mark. Williams was fouled with 12 seconds left. She make just 1-of-2 and Brayboy's lay-up tied the game.
The Bulldogs finished with a commanding 65-33 rebounding advantage and had 23 second-chance points to eight for Longwood. The Lancers went 5-of-14 from the free throw line in the second half.
UNC Asheville returns home to face Winthrop on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. as the Bulldogs host their annual Pink Game to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. Doors open at Noon with vendors showcasing products. There will be a wine & cheese party at halftime plus a fashion show featuring Bulldog student-athletes following the game. Tickets for entire day cost $25 and can be purchased at uncabulldogs.com/tickets.
