University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, November 3
Asheville, NC
7:00 PM
UNC Asheville
vs
Mars Hill
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Basketball Season Is Finally Here! Bulldogs Host Exhibition on Friday
11.02.2017 | Women's Basketball
UNC Asheville opens season with exhibition versus Mars Hill on Friday
2017-18 OFFICIAL HYPE VIDEO
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team will open its 2017-18 schedule on Friday with an exhibition versus Mars Hill inside Kimmel Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
BULLDOG BITES
A Closer Look At The UNC Asheville Roster
The Bulldogs look to repeat for the third consecutive year as they are the reigning back-to-back Big South Conference Champions. Two years ago, UNC Asheville claimed the conference regular season and tournament titles, and last year, the Bulldogs raced through the Big South Tournament to win their third-ever Big South Tournament title.
Asheville returns 10 letterwinners, but it lost four key seniors from last year's championship team – Chatori Major, Tianna Knuckles, Ja'Da Brayboy and KJ Weaver. However, head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick and her coaching staff replenished the roster with four newcomers including three freshmen - Nadiria Evans, Amaryah Corpening and Tamiah Lewis – and one transfer from Jones County Junior College – Juliet Esadah.
Of the 10 returning letterwinners, there are two senior leaders on the squad – Khaila Webb and Bronaza Fitzgerald, and over a week ago, Webb represented the Bulldogs as she was named to the All-Conference Preseason Second Team.
2017-18 Outlook
At the Big South Media Day, the Bulldogs were selected to finish fifth, despite receiving the second-highest amount of first-place votes in the league. Radford earned seven of the total first-place votes as the Highlanders were selected the win the league.
The Bulldogs have a tough schedule this year including a challenging Big South Conference slate. Asheville plays 11 non-conference games including six of those inside Kimmel Arena. The highlight of the schedule is a road contest at N.C. State on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, the Wolfpack was ranked 17th in the country.
The first regular season game for the Bulldogs is slated for Nov. 12 at Western Carolina with a 2 p.m. tip, and the regular season home opener is scheduled for Nov. 18 as the Bulldogs host Charlotte for a 2 p.m. start. UNC Asheville opens its conference portion of the schedule on Jan. 2 at Campbell followed by the conference home opener on Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. versus High Point.
Scouting Mars Hill
The Lions concluded their 2016-17 season with a 7-21 overall record including a 5-17 mark in the South Atlantic Conference. Last year MHU played one NCAA Division I school where Mars Hill fell 81-46 to Furman in Greenville, S.C.
Mars Hill lost a lot of players from last season as it only returns three players from last year's squad – Mariah Johnson, Valeriya Pokrovskaya and Ciara Hampton. Johnson is the lone senior on the team as there are three upperclassmen on the 2017-18 roster.
With three returning players, the Mars Hill coaching staff signed 16 incoming members. Of those 16, four Lions have collegiate playing experience – Sheena Johnson (King University), Paylea Loven (USC Aiken), Shayla Smith (Louisburg College) and Shaigna Wentz (Tallahassee Community College). From the 12 true freshmen, nine are from North Carolina while three Lions are from Tennessee, Indiana and South Carolina.
Season Ticket Availability
The 2017-18 UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball season tickets are officially on sale.
To purchase your season tickets today, please click HERE.
Season tickets are only $250 for adult reserved seats with youth season tickets in reserved seats just $75. General admission adult season tickets are only $125 with youth season tickets in general admission also just $75.
New this year, fans can also receive one free youth season ticket with the purchase of one adult season ticket.
In addition, UNC Asheville All-Sport Passes are still available. The All-Sport Pass gives fans the chance to attend Bulldog men's and women's basketball, volleyball and baseball for one low price.
The All-Sport reserved seat pass for basketball is just $300 for adults with the price $150 for youth. The general admission All-Sport pass is just $175 for adults and $125 for youth.
UNC Asheville faculty, staff and alumni receive an additional 10 percent off their season ticket and All-Sport purchases.
To learn more, and to see the 2017-18 season ticket brochure, please visit HERE.
How To Follow The Game Live
Live stats will be available for the preseason exhibition. The live stats link can be found by clicking HERE.
2017-18 OFFICIAL HYPE VIDEO
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's basketball team will open its 2017-18 schedule on Friday with an exhibition versus Mars Hill inside Kimmel Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
BULLDOG BITES
A Closer Look At The UNC Asheville Roster
The Bulldogs look to repeat for the third consecutive year as they are the reigning back-to-back Big South Conference Champions. Two years ago, UNC Asheville claimed the conference regular season and tournament titles, and last year, the Bulldogs raced through the Big South Tournament to win their third-ever Big South Tournament title.
Asheville returns 10 letterwinners, but it lost four key seniors from last year's championship team – Chatori Major, Tianna Knuckles, Ja'Da Brayboy and KJ Weaver. However, head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick and her coaching staff replenished the roster with four newcomers including three freshmen - Nadiria Evans, Amaryah Corpening and Tamiah Lewis – and one transfer from Jones County Junior College – Juliet Esadah.
Of the 10 returning letterwinners, there are two senior leaders on the squad – Khaila Webb and Bronaza Fitzgerald, and over a week ago, Webb represented the Bulldogs as she was named to the All-Conference Preseason Second Team.
2017-18 Outlook
At the Big South Media Day, the Bulldogs were selected to finish fifth, despite receiving the second-highest amount of first-place votes in the league. Radford earned seven of the total first-place votes as the Highlanders were selected the win the league.
The Bulldogs have a tough schedule this year including a challenging Big South Conference slate. Asheville plays 11 non-conference games including six of those inside Kimmel Arena. The highlight of the schedule is a road contest at N.C. State on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, the Wolfpack was ranked 17th in the country.
The first regular season game for the Bulldogs is slated for Nov. 12 at Western Carolina with a 2 p.m. tip, and the regular season home opener is scheduled for Nov. 18 as the Bulldogs host Charlotte for a 2 p.m. start. UNC Asheville opens its conference portion of the schedule on Jan. 2 at Campbell followed by the conference home opener on Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. versus High Point.
Scouting Mars Hill
The Lions concluded their 2016-17 season with a 7-21 overall record including a 5-17 mark in the South Atlantic Conference. Last year MHU played one NCAA Division I school where Mars Hill fell 81-46 to Furman in Greenville, S.C.
Mars Hill lost a lot of players from last season as it only returns three players from last year's squad – Mariah Johnson, Valeriya Pokrovskaya and Ciara Hampton. Johnson is the lone senior on the team as there are three upperclassmen on the 2017-18 roster.
With three returning players, the Mars Hill coaching staff signed 16 incoming members. Of those 16, four Lions have collegiate playing experience – Sheena Johnson (King University), Paylea Loven (USC Aiken), Shayla Smith (Louisburg College) and Shaigna Wentz (Tallahassee Community College). From the 12 true freshmen, nine are from North Carolina while three Lions are from Tennessee, Indiana and South Carolina.
Season Ticket Availability
The 2017-18 UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball season tickets are officially on sale.
To purchase your season tickets today, please click HERE.
Season tickets are only $250 for adult reserved seats with youth season tickets in reserved seats just $75. General admission adult season tickets are only $125 with youth season tickets in general admission also just $75.
New this year, fans can also receive one free youth season ticket with the purchase of one adult season ticket.
In addition, UNC Asheville All-Sport Passes are still available. The All-Sport Pass gives fans the chance to attend Bulldog men's and women's basketball, volleyball and baseball for one low price.
The All-Sport reserved seat pass for basketball is just $300 for adults with the price $150 for youth. The general admission All-Sport pass is just $175 for adults and $125 for youth.
UNC Asheville faculty, staff and alumni receive an additional 10 percent off their season ticket and All-Sport purchases.
To learn more, and to see the 2017-18 season ticket brochure, please visit HERE.
How To Follow The Game Live
Live stats will be available for the preseason exhibition. The live stats link can be found by clicking HERE.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballThursday, March 14
Thursday, March 14
Monday, March 04
Monday, February 26