University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Picked Third in Preseason Polls; Dengokl Picked Preseason All-Conference
10.28.2019 | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – UNC Asheville's women's basketball team was picked third in the Big South Conference preseason poll, the league announced, Tuesday, at its annual Basketball Media Day. In addition, redshirt senior guard Sonora Dengokl was named to the preseason All-Conference team as a first-team recipient.
"Our staff is really excited about this year's team and its direction," head coach Brenda Kirkpatrick Brown said. "There is a different energy and sense of purpose with this group and I think it's due to a change in our team leadership structure. We named two captains, Brooke Jordan-Brown and Sonora Dengokl, this past summer and we also provided some extensive leadership training for our senior leadership team which included our two captains along with Zip Scott and Juliet Esadah.
"The team has taken more responsibility for defining their vision, core and values and also their championship standards that everyone is committed to and holding each other accountable for. This approach has translated into getting results on the court and bringing a more consistent energy to every aspect of training we do as a team and in individual workouts"
UNC Asheville women's basketball was picked third by Big South coaches after a 2018-19 season that saw the Bulldogs finish fourth in the regular season and play in the conference semifinal game for the fourth straight year.
In addition, the Bulldogs made their fourth straight postseason appearance when they hosted Appalachian State in a Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) first round game on March 20, 2019 inside Kimmel Arena.
The Bulldogs finished the 2018-19 season with an overall record of 17-15 and were 11-7 in Big South Conference matchups. UNC Asheville played to a 12-3 record inside Kimmel Arena.
"My vision for this program will always include competing for a Big South Conference championship," coach Mock said. "Being picked third in the league by my fellow colleagues is both an honor and recognition that, even after losing five seniors to graduation, we can reload and be competitive on an annual basis. This speaks to the development of our underclassmen who continue to step up year after year when it's their turn to take the reins."
Dengokl has been recognized as a Preseason First-Team All-Big South recipient, also voted on by Big South coaches. She was named All-Conference as a second team recipient at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season after missing nine games due to injury and redshirting the 2017-18 season.
Dengokl has won two Big South Championships in her career and was named the Big South Conference Tournament MVP during the Bulldogs' title run in the 2016-17 season.
The highlight of Dengokl's 2018-19 season was January 18 when she tied a UNC Asheville Division I record with 18 made field goals. She scored a career-high 36 points in the Bulldogs' overtime road victory against USC Upstate. Her 36 points were three points shy of the UNC Asheville Division I record.
"I am thrilled that Sonora is getting recognized as a preseason first-team all-conference player in the Big South," coach Mock said. "She has worked hard to develop her game and also propel our team to be great in all aspects as a leader. She is the example to follow in terms of resiliency, next play mentality and being dependable in all situations. I love coaching her because she is hungry to get better in addition to being one of the hardest workers.
"Last season she put up some unbelievable numbers in the nine conference games that she played in and that was after having her son, Aiden, in the spring of 2018. The individual accolades and recognition are wonderful but ultimately Sonora came back for a fifth season to help position her team to win another Big South Championship and for that I am so grateful."
UNC Asheville women's basketball will open it 2019-20 season, Wednesday, November 13, with a 6 p.m. matchup with Lenior-Rhyne inside Kimmel Arena.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2019-20 UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball seasons at Kimmel Arena. Season ticket prices start at $125 for general admission seating while reserved seating is $250 per ticket, and season ticket packages include entry into all men's and women's home games.
To purchase season tickets or for more information, fans can visit the Bulldogs ticketing site HERE or call (828) 258-7900. For more information on the Bulldogs' schedules, team news and game promotions throughout the year, please visit UNCABulldogs.com.
"Our staff is really excited about this year's team and its direction," head coach Brenda Kirkpatrick Brown said. "There is a different energy and sense of purpose with this group and I think it's due to a change in our team leadership structure. We named two captains, Brooke Jordan-Brown and Sonora Dengokl, this past summer and we also provided some extensive leadership training for our senior leadership team which included our two captains along with Zip Scott and Juliet Esadah.
"The team has taken more responsibility for defining their vision, core and values and also their championship standards that everyone is committed to and holding each other accountable for. This approach has translated into getting results on the court and bringing a more consistent energy to every aspect of training we do as a team and in individual workouts"
UNC Asheville women's basketball was picked third by Big South coaches after a 2018-19 season that saw the Bulldogs finish fourth in the regular season and play in the conference semifinal game for the fourth straight year.
In addition, the Bulldogs made their fourth straight postseason appearance when they hosted Appalachian State in a Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) first round game on March 20, 2019 inside Kimmel Arena.
The Bulldogs finished the 2018-19 season with an overall record of 17-15 and were 11-7 in Big South Conference matchups. UNC Asheville played to a 12-3 record inside Kimmel Arena.
"My vision for this program will always include competing for a Big South Conference championship," coach Mock said. "Being picked third in the league by my fellow colleagues is both an honor and recognition that, even after losing five seniors to graduation, we can reload and be competitive on an annual basis. This speaks to the development of our underclassmen who continue to step up year after year when it's their turn to take the reins."
Dengokl has been recognized as a Preseason First-Team All-Big South recipient, also voted on by Big South coaches. She was named All-Conference as a second team recipient at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season after missing nine games due to injury and redshirting the 2017-18 season.
Dengokl has won two Big South Championships in her career and was named the Big South Conference Tournament MVP during the Bulldogs' title run in the 2016-17 season.
The highlight of Dengokl's 2018-19 season was January 18 when she tied a UNC Asheville Division I record with 18 made field goals. She scored a career-high 36 points in the Bulldogs' overtime road victory against USC Upstate. Her 36 points were three points shy of the UNC Asheville Division I record.
"I am thrilled that Sonora is getting recognized as a preseason first-team all-conference player in the Big South," coach Mock said. "She has worked hard to develop her game and also propel our team to be great in all aspects as a leader. She is the example to follow in terms of resiliency, next play mentality and being dependable in all situations. I love coaching her because she is hungry to get better in addition to being one of the hardest workers.
"Last season she put up some unbelievable numbers in the nine conference games that she played in and that was after having her son, Aiden, in the spring of 2018. The individual accolades and recognition are wonderful but ultimately Sonora came back for a fifth season to help position her team to win another Big South Championship and for that I am so grateful."
UNC Asheville women's basketball will open it 2019-20 season, Wednesday, November 13, with a 6 p.m. matchup with Lenior-Rhyne inside Kimmel Arena.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2019-20 UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball seasons at Kimmel Arena. Season ticket prices start at $125 for general admission seating while reserved seating is $250 per ticket, and season ticket packages include entry into all men's and women's home games.
To purchase season tickets or for more information, fans can visit the Bulldogs ticketing site HERE or call (828) 258-7900. For more information on the Bulldogs' schedules, team news and game promotions throughout the year, please visit UNCABulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
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