University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
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Gardner-Webb
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Bulldogs Drop Road Contest to Gardner-Webb, 69-59
01.10.2019 | Women's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Despite another double-digit performance from Jessica Wall and a career-best 12 points from Juliet Esadah, the UNC Asheville women's basketball team fell to Gardner-Webb, 69-59, on Thursday inside Paul Porter Arena.
BULLDOG BITES
Game Highlights
Sonora Dengokl opened the scoring for Asheville, as the senior scored four straight points for the Bulldogs. UNC Asheville continued to ride the momentum by carrying a 9-5 lead with just over six minutes left in the first quarter. The two teams battled back and forth, which ended the first quarter with GWU leading by two, 17-15.
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued their hot offense with an 18-point second quarter to take a nine-point lead into the halftime break, 35-26.
At halftime, Wall had a team-high 10 points on 3-for-5 shooting, while three of her points came from the free throw line. Esadah had five points on 2-for-4 shooting from the hardwood. Zip Scott and Dengokl combined for nine rebounds, including three offensive boards at the 15-minute break.
Gardner-Webb continued to extend its lead in the third quarter, as it outscored the Bulldogs by six points – 19-13. Dengokl added four points in the stanza, while Esadah contributed a trio of points.
The fourth quarter started to shift in the Bulldogs' favor, as they opened the quarter on a 7-0 run. The UNC Asheville run trimmed the deficit to single digits, 54-46. With 1:29 left in the game, Ali Trani drilled a corner three-pointer to pull the game within seven, but it was too late, as the Runnin' Bulldogs fended off Asheville and sealed the 69-59 victory.
Wall again led Asheville in scoring with 14 points. The guard shot 63 percent from the field, 5-for-8. She also added two assists and three boards in 36 minutes.
Esadah had a career game, as the junior netted a single-game best 12 points. She also shot 63 percent from the hardwood and grabbed three offensive rebounds.
Jimeshia Lawson was UNC Asheville's team leader in rebounders, as she grabbed a single-game best nine boards. Five of those rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Dengokl and Trani combined for 17 points and seven made field goals.
Brooke Jordan-Brown finished the game with a block to go along with her seven rebounds and four points.
UNC Asheville falls to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in league action, and Gardner-Webb moves to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in Big South play.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville will yet again take one day off before returning to the hardwood on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Bulldogs will square off with Campbell inside Kimmel Arena at 2 p.m. The league matchup will be streamed on BSN on ESPN+.
