University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Coastal Carolina
Bulldogs Defeat Coastal in Overtime to Stay Atop the Big South
02.06.2016 | Women's Basketball
THE RUNDOWN
Score: Asheville 77 – Coastal 69
Teams: Asheville (18-4, 11-2 BSC)
Coastal Carolina University (7-14, 2-10 BSC)
Location: Kimmel Arena/ Asheville, N.C.
ASHEVILLE- The UNC Asheville Women's Basketball team defeated Coastal Carolina in overtime after a comeback effort late in the fourth quarter. This gives the Bulldogs their eleventh conference win and keeps them in contention for first place in the Big South Conference.
Today was also Asheville's Annual Pink Game, and the Bulldogs raised over $700 to be divided between the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Mission Hospital and Buncombe County Health and Human services' Ladie's Night Out.
THE TURNING POINT
Asheville led for the majority of the game with Coastal taking their first lead (54-51) after a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter with 5:24 left to play. The Bulldogs rallied to tie the score at 63 to send the game into overtime. With 4:36 remaining in overtime and Asheville down 65-64, Chatori Major buried a three-point shot, with an off-ball foul called simultaneously against the Chanticleers. Bronaza Fitzgerald hit both free throws to give Asheville a 69-65 lead that they would protect for an eight-point conference win.
NOTABLES
-The Bulldogs sank 25-of-55 shots (46 percent) overall, and went 3-of-4 (75 percent) in overtime including two made three-pointers from Chatori Major. Coastal was close behind Asheville in offensive efficiency going 26-for-60 (43 percent) on the afternoon.
-Asheville's offense featured four Bulldogs in double-figures: Tianna Knuckles led the team with 20 points and Chatori Major contributed 16. Both Ja'Da Braboy and Fitzgerald each had 11 points in the Asheville victory.
-The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Chanticleers 40-37. Asheville pulled down 23 defensive rebounds and turned 17 offensive rebounds into 18 second chance points to Coastal's 15 offensive rebounds and three second chance points. Brayboy led the team in rebounds with six.
- Asheville won the turnover battle, forcing 19 Coastal turnovers which the Bulldogs turned into 25 points. Coastal picked up 19 points off of 18 Bulldog turnovers. The Chanticleers force the most turnovers in the league, and also collect an average of 10.2 steals per game.
- The Bulldogs outscored Coastal in the paint (28-26) despite a 21-point performance from Coastal's Yasmin Miller.
QUOTABLES FROM HEAD COACH BRENDA MOCK KIRKPATRICK
On Coastal: "Today was all we expected and then some from Coastal. We had the girls prepared for their aggressive defense and told them that at any point their offense could take over. When they are hitting shots and playing with the energy they have they are capable of beating anyone in this league. Coastal was hitting shots and we were not controlling the glass and possessing the ball like we are capable of. We got outplayed in stretches, but stepped up in the last 3 minutes of the fourth quarter and in overtime. Coastal is a good basketball team, much better than their conference record reflects. This was a good experience for the team today. I have no doubt that the remainder of our games are going to be close. “
On the Remainder of the Season: “Yes, we have a good record. But, we have also been a dangerous team in the past with a bad record and know how very few possessions can separate teams regardless of records or what they did the game before. Last year's team lost a ton of very close games. It takes time to learn to play as the hunted and not the underdog. We don't want to put the cart before the horse so to speak with this season. There is a lot our team needs to learn before we can start talking about championships. We are a work in progress, and I want our team to focus on the day to day process, and nothing more. Wins take care of themselves in the end if you are working at getting better every day."
UP NEXT
-Following this afternoon's game, The Bulldogs will travel to Farmville, Virginia to face Longwood University on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m.
