University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
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Gardner-Webb
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Webb’s Late Heroics Stuns Gardner-Webb in Thrilling 61-60 Win
01.30.2018 | Women's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Senior guard Khaila Webb served as UNC Asheville women's basketball's heroine on Tuesday night as the Spartanburg, S.C. native netted three straight field goals including the game-winner with five seconds left in regulation to lift the Bulldogs to a 61-60 victory inside the Paul Porter Arena.
The road victory in the Battle of the Bulldogs marked the sixth consecutive road win for the Bulldogs as they have not lost on the road since Nov. 30 at Wofford.
BULLDOG BITES
Game Highlights
The Bulldogs posted another hot run as they opened the contest on a 7-0 run. The Runnin' Bulldogs cut into the deficit, but Jessica Wall drilled a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs double-digits early in the game. UNC Asheville ended the first 10 minutes with a 4-0 run thanks to back-to-back layups from Bronaza Fitzgerald and Zip Scott which gave UNC Asheville a 14-7 advantage.
Gardner-Webb first moved into double-digits a minute and a half into the second stanza as Tierra Huntsman knocked double a triple. GWU ultimately knotted the game up (16-16) for the first time since the opening tip. The two squads exchanged baskets for the final four minutes, but the Bulldogs pulled away by three points as Fitzgerald hit a jumper as time expired.
With the 24-21 lead at half, Wall and Fitzgerald led both teams as each had eight points. The junior from Chapel Hill, N.C. went 2-for-5 behind the three-point arc as she also tallied a steal and an assist. The senior center was nearly perfect from the hardwood as she was 4-for-5. She also grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to seven (44-37) thanks to 7-for-18 shooting in the third quarter and four made free-throws. Asheville recorded 13 rebounds in the stanza including a quarter-high five offensive boards.
Gardner-Webb tied the game for the second time in the fourth quarter as it went on a 9-2 run to open the final stanza. After going back-and-forth for several minutes, GWU saw its largest lead of the game (56-52) with 37 seconds left. Webb made it a two-point game with a jump shot, but the Runnin' Bulldogs made it a three-point game after making a free-throw four seconds later. Despite Asheville making it a one-point game again, Gardner-Webb made a free-throw to make it 58-56. Four seconds later Wall drilled her fourth three-pointer of the game which put Asheville ahead 59-58 with 21 seconds remaining.
Following a costly Bulldog foul, the Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage by making back-to-back free-throws to pull ahead by one. However, Webb raced down the court and netted the game-winning floater with five seconds on the clock. GWU tried to run the court, but it ran out of time to give Asheville the 61-60 victory.
After making three straight baskets to end the contest, Webb totaled 13 points as she netted five field goals and corralled four rebounds.
Fitzgerald recorded 20 points which marks the third time in the last four games she has netted at least 20 points. She also grabbed 14 rebounds including eight offensive boards. She has corralled double-digit rebounds in four straight games for Asheville. With her 20 points and 14 rebounds, it marks the 12th career double-double and the eighth double-double of the season for the senior. The Danville, Va. native went an impressive 9-for-15 (.600 percent) from the field as she also denied a pair of GWU shots.
Wall was the Bulldogs' second-leading scorer for the second straight game as she netted 14 points. She made four three-pointers while tallying a steal and an assist. Scott finished the contest with six points as she led the team with four assists in 36 minutes of action.
For the second time this season, UNC Asheville moves to .500 as it is now 10-10 on the year overall and 7-2 in Big South Conference games. Gardner-Webb falls to 14-7 overall and 4-5 in the league.
Quotable
What's Next?
The Bulldogs return home on Saturday, Feb. 3 as they square off with Winthrop inside Kimmel Arena at 2 p.m. The game will be part of a doubleheader as the men's team will start at 4:30 p.m. versus Presbyterian.
