University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
14-14, 11-6BSC
Presbyterian
11-17, 8-9BCS
Fitzgerald Nets Career-High 24 Points; Bulldogs Drop Heartbreaker in Overtime
02.27.2018 | Women's Basketball
CLINTON, S.C. – Despite Bronaza Fitzgerald netting a career-high 24 points in the final mid-week game of the regular season, the UNC Asheville women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker in overtime, 72-63, to Presbyterian on Tuesday.
BULLDOG BITES
Game Highlights
Both squads were battling early to begin the contest. In fact, neither team made back-to-back field goals in the opening quarter. The longest run either team could muster was a 4-0 run. At the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs corralled five offensive boards en route to grabbing 11 total rebounds.
Down 16-11 after the first 10 minutes of play, UNC Asheville made it a three-point contest when Fitzgerald knocked down an early jumper. The Bulldog offense went cold, as it only made one field goal in a span of six minutes. Ending the drought was a Jessica Wall three pointer, which brought the deficit to four points (22-18). PC took advantage of the drought though, as it scored seven unanswered points to make it an 11-point contest.
Despite Nadiria Evans scoring four points in under a minute, the Blue Hose made a jumper with 11 seconds remaining before halftime to give them the 31-22 lead at the intermission.
At the half, Khaila Webb and Wall led the Bulldogs, as they each had six points. As a team, UNC Asheville out-rebounded Presbyterian 17-11, including 10-6 on the defensive glass.
After being limited to only one field goal attempt in the first 20 minutes, Fitzgerald made five of her first six field goal attempts to start the second half. The Bulldogs extended their run to 14-7, which brought the deficit to only two points - 38-36. Following a pair of made PC free throws, Zip Scott pulled the deficit to only one point (40-39) late in the stanza.
Fitzgerald gave UNC Asheville its first lead of the game after being fouled 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. She made both free-throw attempts to give the Bulldogs the 41-40 lead early in the stanza.
PC regained the lead quickly, as it recorded a 7-0 run to give the Blue Hose a 53-47 advantage. However, three unanswered field goals by the Bulldogs gave them their second lead of the game, 54-53. With just over a minute left in regulation, PC made a free throw to knot the game at 54-54.
Both teams had chances to net the game-winner, but late turnovers by both teams forced the contest to go into overtime.
To open the overtime session, PC's Cortney Storey made five points in the first minute and a half. Wall answered with a three pointer, but Storey put the Blue Hose on her back, as she made 10 more points in the overtime session to give the Blue Hose the 72-63 victory.
Fitzgerald netted 22 points in the second half and overtime sessions, and the senior center finished the game with a career-high 24 points. She was an impressive 10-for-11 from the field, which matches a career-high for field goals made. She totaled 12 rebounds, which marks her 17th career and 13th double-double of the season.
Webb added 14 points, as she made five field goals. She also went an unblemished 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Wall added nine points for the Bulldogs, and Scott and Evans each tallied six points. Tiffany Wilson and Wall each grabbed five rebounds.
As a team, UNC Asheville held the narrow 26-22 edge in points in the paint.
Overall, there were five lead changes, and the game was tied for 4:07.
The Bulldogs fall to 14-14 overall and 11-6 in the Big South, and Presbyterian advances to 11-17 overall and 8-9 in the league.
What's Next?
The Bulldogs conclude their regular season, as they host Gardner-Webb inside Kimmel Arena. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m., and Saturday's game will serve as Senior Day, as UNC Asheville will recognize its two seniors - Webb and Fitzgerald.
