University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Game Day: Bulldogs take on No. 3 Kentucky at 4pm on ESPN2
03.19.2016 | Women's Basketball
LEXINGTON, Ky.- All of the I's have been dotted and the t's have been crossed, and the UNC Asheville women's basketball team has laid all preparations for their 4:00 p.m. match-up with the No. 3 seeded Kentucky Wildcats.
The Bulldogs found out on Monday night that their second NCAA appearance in program history would come on the floor of Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky, giving them four days to prepare to make history.
Asheville has already delivered a season for the history books in 2015-16, producing 26 season wins and 16 conference victories. The Bulldogs surpassed a previous program-best 21 season wins and nine conference from the 2003-04 campaign. Asheville's 26 season victories betters the 22 combined wins from the Bulldogs' past three seasons, (2012-13: 2-28, 2013-14: 11-20, 2014-15: 9-22).
The magic continued with the program's first ever regular-season Conference Championship. Asheville came through with a victory over High Point University in the last regular season game of the year to give them a one game edge over the Liberty flames and bring home the conference crown. The Bulldogs capped off the ultimate turnaround season with a victory over Liberty University for their second Big South Conference Tournament Championship and a bid to the NCAA tournament.
Today's game will be available for Bulldog Fans to watch at home on ESPN2 (broadcasted live) and for fans on the go, you can keep up with your Bulldogs online from any smartphone, tablet or mobile device on watchespn.com.
LOCATIONS FOR SATURDAY WATCH PARTIES
Asheville Locations:
Asheville Pizza and Brewing on Merrimon Ave.
The Grotto at Highsmith (UNCA Campus)
Durham/ RTP Location:
Rookie's Sports Bar: 4911 Central Park Drive, Durham
NOTABLES
Started From the Bottom: The Bulldogs were picked to finish 8th of ten teams in the Big South Conference Preseason Poll back in October. Throughout the 2015-16 season, the Bulldogs never dropped below second place in conference standings, opening league play with four straight wins.
Mid-MAJOR News: Asheville cracked CollegeInsider.com's Women's Mid-Major Poll for the first time in school history this season. Asheville landed in the number 25 spot for the first time on February 25. The Bulldogs would hold a spot in the rankings for three consecutive weeks, moving up as high as the 21 spot in the third week.
Finishing Strong: The Bulldogs finished the season leading the Big South Conference in two statistical categories, scoring (69), and field goal percentage (42.5%). Asheville led the conference in as many as seven categories at once during the season.
