University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
4-2
Furman
4-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNC Asheville | 10 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 51 |
| Furman | 17 | 15 | 19 | 12 | 63 |
UNC Asheville's Winning Streak Halted at Furman
12.03.2016 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, S.C. - These are the types of games that UNC Asheville women's basketball head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick wants to play this time of year.Â
The game did not end up the way that UNC Asheville (4-2)Â wanted with Furman (4-4)Â pulling away for a 63-51 win at Timmons Arena on Saturday, Dec. 3, but Kirkpatrick knows the game will help her team going forward.Â
"I told the kids at halftime this is a great test for us," Kirkpatrick said. "I'm certainly not pleased with the outcome and I didn't want to be in that situation down 10 at the half, but at the same time this is what we play the non-conference for is to be tested and to learn."
As noted by Kirkpatrick it would be Furman that held a 10-point lead at 32-22 at the halftime break, but the second half start would change the complexion of the game.Â
In fact, UNC Asheville would start the second half on a 14-0 run to take a 36-32 lead.Â
Furman would be able to withstand the strong Bulldog run to start the second half though with the Paladins taking the lead back for good with 3:07 to play in the third quarter.Â
Down the stretch of the game the Bulldogs would have their chances to cut into the Paladin lead, but Furman would be able to hold off their advances to emerge with the 12-point win.Â
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the UNC Asheville women's basketball team. Furman's victory improved its winning streak to four games.Â
Guard Chatori Major led the Bulldogs in their loss with 15 points, while center KJ Weaver just missed on a double-double with nine rebounds and six points. Guard Khalia Webb led the Bulldogs with three assists to go along with her eight points and five rebounds. Guard Tianna Knuckles had 10 points for the Bulldogs in their loss.Â
Furman's Whitney Bunn was the top scorer in the game with 26 points.Â
BULLDOG BITES
KEY STAT: Furman out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 45-34.Â
MAKING THEM WORK: UNC Asheville forced Furman into 17 turnovers with the Bulldogs scoring 14 points off of the turnovers.Â
FROM THE FIELD: As a team, UNC Asheville ended its loss shooting 32.2 percent (19-of-59). Furman shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53) as a team in the contest.Â
QUOTABLESÂ
"We have to credit Furman today for out hustling us for better parts of the game. Outside of Whitney Bunn, no one on either team was in offensive rhythm. She had a fantastic game and on a couple of occasions we missed defensive assignments and allowed her to be comfortable. We have to learn how to push through and play ugly when shots aren't falling. There were opportunities. This was a great test for us. Not what I wanted as a coach of course, but it's what we needed as we are over the halfway point in our non-conference slate. We have a week to work on some things before we play Wofford. Our kids will respond, we will be accountable for our mistakes and look forward."Â - Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick
UP NEXT: UNC Asheville women's basketball will next welcome Wofford to Kimmel Arena for a 4:30 p.m. game on Saturday, Dec. 10. The game is part of a doubleheader on the day with the UNC Asheville men's basketball team facing off against Warren Wilson that same evening at 7 p.m.Â
HOME SWEET HOME: Kimmel Arena is one of the toughest places to play in all of women's college basketball. This year the Bulldogs are already 3-0 at home with wins over Western Carolina, Tennessee Tech and Warren Wilson. The strong 3-0 start at home this season follows up a performance last year where the Bulldogs were 16-2 at Kimmel Arena.Â
