University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Monday, November 28
Asheville, NC
6:30 pm
UNC Asheville
3-2,0-0Big South
64
vs
51
Western Carolina
3-4,0-0SoCon
1
2
3
4
F
Western Caro.
16
14
11
10
51
UNC Asheville
16
18
18
12
64
Bulldogs Defend Home Court with Rivalry Win over Western Carolina
11.28.2022 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville women's basketball team defended home court Monday night (Nov. 28) with a rivalry win over Western Carolina by a score of 64-51.
"It's always great to beat one of your rivals," said head coach Honey Brown. "I was really proud of our three-point shooting tonight, we've been working hard on finding open looks and I think we hit more three-pointers than we did all year."
"This definitely felt good, it's what we do" said junior guard Dakota McCaughan. "It's what we kept saying on the bench, that we work hard in practice and it shows on the court."
Western Carolina controlled the first half of the quarter taking a 14-8 lead at the first media timeout. The Bulldogs responded with an 8-2 run to close out the quarter to leave the teams tied at 16 headed to the second.
The Bulldogs rallied from an early second quarter deficit with three consecutive scoring possessions to take a five-point lead with just over two minutes to play in the quarter, before the teams traded scores to end the half and the Bulldogs went to the locker room with a 34-30 lead.
The Bulldogs out-scored Western Carolina 18-11 in the third quarter to take a 52-41 lead to the fourth. Asheville stretched the lead into double digits four minutes into the frame and were able to keep the Catamounts at a few possessions' length throughout the quarter.
The Bulldogs were able maintain their lead in the fourth quarter, not letting Western Carolina get any closer than seven points in the frame. Asheville stretched the lead further into double digits in the late stages of the fourth quarter.
McKinley Brooks-Sumpter led all scorers with 16 points in the game, while Dakota McCaughan also contributed 10 points off the bench. Mallory Bruce chipped in nine points, while Abigail Wilson scored eight and Faith Adams, Jamaya Blanks and Jamia Blake each had five. Jordaynia Ivie, Jada Brigman and Nycerra Minnis each also added two points in the game.
"We want the balanced scoring attack," said Brown. "We want to find the open shooter and that person to have the confidence to knock down the shot when they're open."
"I think that because we're so balanced, we're a dangerous team" said McCaughan. "It definitely helps because it opens up different things for different players."
The Bulldogs out-rebounded Western Carolina 40-35 in the contest, led by seven boards from Wilson. Brooks-Sumpter also pulled down six rebounds in the game, while McCaughan had five and Blanks had four. Bruce contributed three boards in the win, while Blake, Ivie and Brigman each had two and Adams also had one. McCaughan also dished out a team-high three assists on the night, while Ivie and Adams each had two assists and Brooks-Sumpter, Bruce and Minnis each had one. Adams collected a team-high two steals in the game, while Brooks-Sumpter, Brigman and Blanks each had one. Brooks-Sumpter and Wilson each posted one block in the win.
The Bulldogs return to Kimmel Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 30) to host Warren Wilson for Education day sponsored by Arby's. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. from Kimmel Arena. Tickets can be purchased by visiting uncabulldogs.com/tickets or by calling 828-258-7900. Video (ESPN+) and live stats will also be available at www.uncabulldogs.com.
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"It's always great to beat one of your rivals," said head coach Honey Brown. "I was really proud of our three-point shooting tonight, we've been working hard on finding open looks and I think we hit more three-pointers than we did all year."
"This definitely felt good, it's what we do" said junior guard Dakota McCaughan. "It's what we kept saying on the bench, that we work hard in practice and it shows on the court."
Western Carolina controlled the first half of the quarter taking a 14-8 lead at the first media timeout. The Bulldogs responded with an 8-2 run to close out the quarter to leave the teams tied at 16 headed to the second.
The Bulldogs rallied from an early second quarter deficit with three consecutive scoring possessions to take a five-point lead with just over two minutes to play in the quarter, before the teams traded scores to end the half and the Bulldogs went to the locker room with a 34-30 lead.
The Bulldogs out-scored Western Carolina 18-11 in the third quarter to take a 52-41 lead to the fourth. Asheville stretched the lead into double digits four minutes into the frame and were able to keep the Catamounts at a few possessions' length throughout the quarter.
The Bulldogs were able maintain their lead in the fourth quarter, not letting Western Carolina get any closer than seven points in the frame. Asheville stretched the lead further into double digits in the late stages of the fourth quarter.
McKinley Brooks-Sumpter led all scorers with 16 points in the game, while Dakota McCaughan also contributed 10 points off the bench. Mallory Bruce chipped in nine points, while Abigail Wilson scored eight and Faith Adams, Jamaya Blanks and Jamia Blake each had five. Jordaynia Ivie, Jada Brigman and Nycerra Minnis each also added two points in the game.
"We want the balanced scoring attack," said Brown. "We want to find the open shooter and that person to have the confidence to knock down the shot when they're open."
"I think that because we're so balanced, we're a dangerous team" said McCaughan. "It definitely helps because it opens up different things for different players."
The Bulldogs out-rebounded Western Carolina 40-35 in the contest, led by seven boards from Wilson. Brooks-Sumpter also pulled down six rebounds in the game, while McCaughan had five and Blanks had four. Bruce contributed three boards in the win, while Blake, Ivie and Brigman each had two and Adams also had one. McCaughan also dished out a team-high three assists on the night, while Ivie and Adams each had two assists and Brooks-Sumpter, Bruce and Minnis each had one. Adams collected a team-high two steals in the game, while Brooks-Sumpter, Brigman and Blanks each had one. Brooks-Sumpter and Wilson each posted one block in the win.
The Bulldogs return to Kimmel Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 30) to host Warren Wilson for Education day sponsored by Arby's. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. from Kimmel Arena. Tickets can be purchased by visiting uncabulldogs.com/tickets or by calling 828-258-7900. Video (ESPN+) and live stats will also be available at www.uncabulldogs.com.
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Team Stats
WCU
AVL
FG%
.349
.404
3FG%
.263
.444
FT%
.200
.720
RB
35
40
TO
9
14
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
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