University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldog Women’s Basketball Welcoming Back Alumni Saturday
01.26.2017 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – On Saturday, Jan. 28, UNC Asheville will welcome back over 30 alumni from the women's basketball program during the Bulldogs' Big South Conference game against Radford inside Kimmel Arena. The alumni will be recognized on the court at halftime of the women's game
"I love that our former-student athletes know they are always members of the Bulldog family," Senior Administrator for University Enterprises and Director of Athletics Janet Cone said. "To have them come back to campus and be here to support the present student-athletes and coaches is very special. We hope our alumni know they are very important and that they see we are working to carry on what they did while they were here. They helped us to be 'Champions in athletics and leaders in life.'"
"We are thrilled to have so many of our Bulldog family members coming back to celebrate their careers at UNC Asheville and be recognized," said current head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick. "This year is very special because we will be recognizing the 10-year anniversary of our 2007 Big South Championship team coached by our very own Betsy Blose. Recognizing these alumni is a very important part of our program and what we are building at UNC Asheville. We want our current student-athletes to see the bonds and relationships they are forming here will certainly last a lifetime. We also want to provide an opportunity where all of the women who have put on the blue and white can gather again, have fun and celebrate both the past and the future. We are looking forward to a day of great competition and celebration."
While having so many alumni return home is important, the Bulldogs will also look to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the 2006-07 team claiming the Big South Conference Tournament crown and setting a program first with a trip to the NCAA Tournament. It is only fitting that the 2016-17 Bulldogs host Radford during the celebration because the 2006-07 Bulldogs bested the Highlanders to claim UNC Asheville's first-ever Big South Conference Tournament crown in women's basketball.
"It is going to be very fun to see that 2007 class that won the Big South Conference Tournament come back and to recognize them for their great accomplishments," Cone said. "To have the chance to see them as they are out in the world being leaders, it's just very special."
"I can't believe it's been 10 years!" former head coach and current Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Betsy Blose said. "I can remember some of the things that happened that week like it was yesterday.
"I think the thing I remember the most after winning the championship was how excited everybody was," Blose continued. "The Justice Center was packed and it was great to just see those young ladies' faces light up. We had built the program much like Brenda is doing now. Everybody was just so excited. I'll never forget it. I'm very excited that everybody is coming back to support our current women's team. It's ironic that it's against Radford. A lot of coaches and players have come and gone, but the alumni that are coming back will remember it was the Radford game where we won the championship. It's an exciting weekend."
The 2006-07 team went 21-12 that season, ending the year by winning seven of their last 10 games, including besting Coastal Carolina, Winthrop and Radford in the Big South Conference Tournament before falling to LSU in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs' 21 wins were the most by a team to that point since the 1983-84 season.
UNC Asheville was led that season by Big South Tournament MVP Amanda Elder as well as all-tournament selection Brittany Hendley and Big South Rookie of the Year Kyla Jones.
The 2006-07 championship culminated a spectacular turnaround for UNC Asheville under then fifth-year head coach Blose. Blose came to Asheville in the spring of 2002 and inherited a team that went 1-27 the previous year. The Bulldogs finished 3-25 in her first season but had four straight winning seasons in a row.
This Saturday's women's game will be the second part of a men's and women's doubleheader inside Kimmel Arena. The Bulldog men will get things started at high noon with a nationally-televised game against Radford on the American Sports Network (ASN). The Bulldog women and Highlander women will then tip off shortly after the conclusion of that game, at approximately 2 p.m.
UNC Asheville is also proud to welcome residents of Haywood County, home of UNC Asheville Women's Basketball Coach, Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick with a discount off tickets to cheer on the Bulldogs. The discount can be redeemed online with a Haywood County address and the promo code Haywood. Fans can also show their ID at the ticket window to receive the discount. Tickets are good for both men's and women's game.
Both the UNC Asheville Men's and Women's Basketball coaches, along with the coaches of the Radford Highlanders, will wear sneakers with their suits this weekend in honor of Princess Lacey's Laces and the fight against childhood cancer. The Greenside Up Foundation will be hosting a silent auction on the concourse to benefit the Mission Health Cancer Center in the fight against childhood cancer.
"I love that our former-student athletes know they are always members of the Bulldog family," Senior Administrator for University Enterprises and Director of Athletics Janet Cone said. "To have them come back to campus and be here to support the present student-athletes and coaches is very special. We hope our alumni know they are very important and that they see we are working to carry on what they did while they were here. They helped us to be 'Champions in athletics and leaders in life.'"
"We are thrilled to have so many of our Bulldog family members coming back to celebrate their careers at UNC Asheville and be recognized," said current head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick. "This year is very special because we will be recognizing the 10-year anniversary of our 2007 Big South Championship team coached by our very own Betsy Blose. Recognizing these alumni is a very important part of our program and what we are building at UNC Asheville. We want our current student-athletes to see the bonds and relationships they are forming here will certainly last a lifetime. We also want to provide an opportunity where all of the women who have put on the blue and white can gather again, have fun and celebrate both the past and the future. We are looking forward to a day of great competition and celebration."
While having so many alumni return home is important, the Bulldogs will also look to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the 2006-07 team claiming the Big South Conference Tournament crown and setting a program first with a trip to the NCAA Tournament. It is only fitting that the 2016-17 Bulldogs host Radford during the celebration because the 2006-07 Bulldogs bested the Highlanders to claim UNC Asheville's first-ever Big South Conference Tournament crown in women's basketball.
"It is going to be very fun to see that 2007 class that won the Big South Conference Tournament come back and to recognize them for their great accomplishments," Cone said. "To have the chance to see them as they are out in the world being leaders, it's just very special."
"I can't believe it's been 10 years!" former head coach and current Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Betsy Blose said. "I can remember some of the things that happened that week like it was yesterday.
"I think the thing I remember the most after winning the championship was how excited everybody was," Blose continued. "The Justice Center was packed and it was great to just see those young ladies' faces light up. We had built the program much like Brenda is doing now. Everybody was just so excited. I'll never forget it. I'm very excited that everybody is coming back to support our current women's team. It's ironic that it's against Radford. A lot of coaches and players have come and gone, but the alumni that are coming back will remember it was the Radford game where we won the championship. It's an exciting weekend."
The 2006-07 team went 21-12 that season, ending the year by winning seven of their last 10 games, including besting Coastal Carolina, Winthrop and Radford in the Big South Conference Tournament before falling to LSU in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs' 21 wins were the most by a team to that point since the 1983-84 season.
UNC Asheville was led that season by Big South Tournament MVP Amanda Elder as well as all-tournament selection Brittany Hendley and Big South Rookie of the Year Kyla Jones.
The 2006-07 championship culminated a spectacular turnaround for UNC Asheville under then fifth-year head coach Blose. Blose came to Asheville in the spring of 2002 and inherited a team that went 1-27 the previous year. The Bulldogs finished 3-25 in her first season but had four straight winning seasons in a row.
This Saturday's women's game will be the second part of a men's and women's doubleheader inside Kimmel Arena. The Bulldog men will get things started at high noon with a nationally-televised game against Radford on the American Sports Network (ASN). The Bulldog women and Highlander women will then tip off shortly after the conclusion of that game, at approximately 2 p.m.
UNC Asheville is also proud to welcome residents of Haywood County, home of UNC Asheville Women's Basketball Coach, Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick with a discount off tickets to cheer on the Bulldogs. The discount can be redeemed online with a Haywood County address and the promo code Haywood. Fans can also show their ID at the ticket window to receive the discount. Tickets are good for both men's and women's game.
Both the UNC Asheville Men's and Women's Basketball coaches, along with the coaches of the Radford Highlanders, will wear sneakers with their suits this weekend in honor of Princess Lacey's Laces and the fight against childhood cancer. The Greenside Up Foundation will be hosting a silent auction on the concourse to benefit the Mission Health Cancer Center in the fight against childhood cancer.
Thursday, March 14
Thursday, March 14
Monday, March 04
Monday, February 26