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University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
7-9, 4-1BSC
Liberty
9-8, 4-1BSC
Webb, Bulldog Defense Hand Liberty First Big South Loss of the Season
01.16.2018 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Led by Khaila Webb and the Bulldog defense, the UNC Asheville women's basketball team handed Liberty its first Big South Conference loss of the season, 48-41, on Tuesday night in Kimmel Arena.
In the seven-point victory, Asheville extended its head-to-head winning streak to five straight games over the Flames.
BULLDOG BITES
Game Highlights
Neither team had a strong performance in the first half as Liberty was held to a season-low 20 points while Asheville was held to 22 points. The Bulldogs shot only 22.7 percent from the field (5-for-22), but Asheville was efficient in drawing fouls (Liberty fouled nine times) and converting on 11 of their 12 free-throw opportunities. Leading the offense for the Bulldogs was Webb as she made four of the team's five shots.
The Bulldogs stuck to their defensive game plan as they held the Flames to seven points in the third quarter. Liberty shot only 30 percent from the field in the stanza including going 1-for-5 beyond the three-point arc. The Bulldog offense converted by shooting 54.5 percent (6-for-11) in the third quarter en route to 12 points to push its lead to 34-27. Three Bulldogs - Webb, Bronaza Fitzgerald and Zip Scott - made a pair of baskets in the stanza while Webb added three steals and a pair of assists.
Asheville capped off the final quarter with a game-high 14 points in the final 10 minutes as they went 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. Webb made three of the team's field goals in the final stanza as she as added a pair of free throws to conclude the mid-week contest.
Webb was the offensive star for the Bulldogs as she totaled 23 of the team's 48 points, which is a new career high. The Bulldogs made 15 total field goals while the Spartanburg, S.C. native converted on nine of the team's made shots. The Bulldogs totaled nine steals while Webb tallied five to lead both squads. The senior guard also grabbed four rebounds - all defensive - which was tied for the team lead with Tiffany Wilson and Scott.
Scott, Fitzgerald and Wilson each ended the game with a pair of field goals while Fitzgerald was Asheville's second-leading scorer with seven points.
Both teams had similar field goal percentages as the Bulldogs went 15-for-46 from the field (32.6 percent) and Liberty shot 16-for-49 (32.7 percent). Asheville tallied nine steals - the second-most this season - which converted into 18 points in turnovers and a 6-2 advantage in fast-break points. To go along with the 18 points off turnovers, Liberty turned the ball over 21 times, which is the most the Lady Flames have committed in the Big South this season.
As a team, UNC Asheville shot an outstanding 85 percent (17-for-20) from the charity stripe as junior guard Ali Trani led the team from the free-throw line (5-for-6). Webb went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line while Wilson and Fitzgerald went 2-for-2.
Liberty scored 41 points in the mid-week matchup, which is a season low. Its previous low was 47 points at James Madison in early December.
Winner's of three straight contests, UNC Asheville moves to 7-9 overall and 4-1 in league play. Liberty drops to 9-8 overall as it was pinned with its first league loss of the season (4-1). The Bulldogs are currently tied for second in the Big South as High Point is undefeated at 5-0 in league play this year.
Quotable
What's Next?
The Bulldogs commence its two-game road swing with a trip to Winthrop on Jan. 20. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in Rock Hill, S.C.
