University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Travel to Virginia Tech in Season Opener
11.10.2016 | Women's Basketball
THE MATCHUP
Teams: Asheville (0-0, 0-0 BSC)
Virginia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Location: Cassell Coliseum / Blacksburg, Va.
Time: Friday, November 11, 3:30 p.m.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team begins their regular season with a trip to Blacksburg, Va. to face the Virginia Tech Hokies this Friday, November 11 at Cassell Coliseum beginning at 3:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 26-7 season, a Big South Conference Tournament Championship, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Kentucky.
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Asheville was voted to finish 1st by the Big South Conference and two Bulldogs were selected to the preseason all-conference team, including Tianna Knuckles and reigning Big South Player of the Year and Big South Preseason Player of the year Chatori Major.
NOTABLES
BULLDOGS:
Chatori Major was Asheville's leading scorer in 2015-16 and provided team-high points in 13 games. Major led the Bulldogs in eight statistical categories. She ranked in the top 10 in the Big South (2015-16) in: Three-point percentage (1st), scoring (5th), Field Goal percentage (6th) and Three-pointers made (5th). Major started all 33 games last season and scored in double figures in 23 games.
Tianna Knuckles was the second leading scorer for Asheville and provided team-high points in 13 games last season. She led the Bulldogs in three statistical categories last season. She started 32 games in 2015-16 and scored in double-figures in 23 games. She ranked in the top 10 in the Big South in the 2015-16 season in: Three-pointers made (3rd), Three-point shooting percentage (8th), Scoring (9th) and Field Goal Percentage 11th).
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BATTLING THE ACC: This will be the second meeting between the two teams. The last time they met was over 15 years ago, in which Virginia Tech came out on top 85-47 on December 28, 2000. The only victory over an ACC school was January 8, 2007, the Bulldogs beat Wake Forest on the road, 58-53.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH:Â Virginia Tech returns three starters and six letter winners overall from last season's team that finished with an 18-14 overall record and helped the program to its first postseason appearance in nine years as Tech received an at-large bid to the WNIT. Last year also marked the first winning season for the Hokies since 2006-07.
GAME READY:Â Â The Bulldogs' squad has depth and experience on the roster with seven upper classmen, four seniors and three juniors returning from last year's squad. Â
QUOTABLES
"We are really looking forward to opening our season against a very talented basketball team at Virginia Tech. Their coach, Kenny Brooks, did a fantastic job of making James Madison University a very prominent women's basketball program and I am certain he is doing great things with the returning talent that the Hokies have on their roster. Virginia Tech was a post season team last year and has positive momentum coming into this season. I have great respect for their team and the ACC is one of the best in terms of level of play in women's basketball. They are battle tested. Our girls have had a productive preseason of growth and it pleases me to see some of the younger players improving and our upperclassmen maturing as well. This is a great opportunity to see where we are currently and get better from there. The girls are definitely ready to play a game after 30 practices."
—Head Coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick
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UP NEXT
Following the game in Blacksburg, the Bulldogs will continue their road trip when they travel to Greensboro, NC to face off with the UNC Greensboro Spartans on Monday, November 14 at 5:30 p.m.
