University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Sunday, November 12
Asheville, NC
2 pm
UNC Asheville
1-1,0-0Big South
53
vs
38
Tennessee State
1-2,0-0OVC
1
2
3
4
F
Tennessee St.
9
7
12
10
38
UNC Asheville
23
5
15
10
53
Big First Quarter Powers Bulldogs over Tennessee State in Home Opener on Sunday
11.12.2023 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - A big first quarter powered UNC Asheville Women's Basketball past Tennessee State in the home opener by a score of 53-38. This marks the 11th straight year that
Asheville has won its home opener, and also marks the fewest points that the Bulldogs have allowed since a 100-36 victory over Warren Wilson back on Dec. 1, 2021.
Asheville came out hot to start, out-scoring Tennessee State 23-9 in the opening quarter. After a three-pointer from LaImani Simmons tied the game at 7-7 with 4:41 to play in the period, Asheville closed the frame on a 16-2 run. The run consisted of four three-pointers by four different players in Simmons, Millie Brown, Jamaya Blanks and Dakota McCaughan along with another bucket from Simmons and a pair of free throws from Blanks.
Both teams struggled to score the basketball in the second quarter with Tennessee State out-scoring Asheville 7-5, but the Bulldogs taking a 28-16 lead to the half.
Asheville would out-score Tennessee State 15-12 in the third quarter, and each team would score 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Asheville shot 39.2 percent (20-51) from the field, 35.0 percent (7-20) from three-point range and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line in the win. Simmons paced the Bulldogs with a game-high 14 points, while Jaila Lee also had 11 points in the game. Blanks added seven points, while Mallory Bruce had five and Nycerra Minnis and Abigail Wilson each contributed four. Brown and McCaughan each had three points in the game, while Faith Adams also had two. Asheville out-rebounded Tennessee State 36-22 in the game, led by a career-high nine rebounds from Lee. Blanks and Minnis each pulled down five rebounds in the game, while Simmons and Briauna Thompson each had four. McCaughan and Adams each had two boards in the game, while Brown, Bruce and Trinity Fields each had one rebound in the game. Brown led the way with a career-high four assists in the game, while Lee, Blanks and Simmons each had two and Thompson, McCaughan, Adams and Bruce each added one. Brown, Lee, Blanks, Simmons and Bruce each had one steal in the game, while Lee and Minnis each posted one block in the game.
The Bulldogs (1-1) return to the hardwood on Tuesday (Nov. 14) at Charlotte in non-conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. from Halton Arena in Charlotte, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.
About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.4 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 118 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
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Asheville has won its home opener, and also marks the fewest points that the Bulldogs have allowed since a 100-36 victory over Warren Wilson back on Dec. 1, 2021.
Asheville came out hot to start, out-scoring Tennessee State 23-9 in the opening quarter. After a three-pointer from LaImani Simmons tied the game at 7-7 with 4:41 to play in the period, Asheville closed the frame on a 16-2 run. The run consisted of four three-pointers by four different players in Simmons, Millie Brown, Jamaya Blanks and Dakota McCaughan along with another bucket from Simmons and a pair of free throws from Blanks.
Both teams struggled to score the basketball in the second quarter with Tennessee State out-scoring Asheville 7-5, but the Bulldogs taking a 28-16 lead to the half.
Asheville would out-score Tennessee State 15-12 in the third quarter, and each team would score 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Asheville shot 39.2 percent (20-51) from the field, 35.0 percent (7-20) from three-point range and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line in the win. Simmons paced the Bulldogs with a game-high 14 points, while Jaila Lee also had 11 points in the game. Blanks added seven points, while Mallory Bruce had five and Nycerra Minnis and Abigail Wilson each contributed four. Brown and McCaughan each had three points in the game, while Faith Adams also had two. Asheville out-rebounded Tennessee State 36-22 in the game, led by a career-high nine rebounds from Lee. Blanks and Minnis each pulled down five rebounds in the game, while Simmons and Briauna Thompson each had four. McCaughan and Adams each had two boards in the game, while Brown, Bruce and Trinity Fields each had one rebound in the game. Brown led the way with a career-high four assists in the game, while Lee, Blanks and Simmons each had two and Thompson, McCaughan, Adams and Bruce each added one. Brown, Lee, Blanks, Simmons and Bruce each had one steal in the game, while Lee and Minnis each posted one block in the game.
The Bulldogs (1-1) return to the hardwood on Tuesday (Nov. 14) at Charlotte in non-conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. from Halton Arena in Charlotte, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.
About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.4 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 118 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
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Team Stats
TSU
AVL
FG%
.300
.392
3FG%
.167
.350
FT%
.600
1.000
RB
22
36
TO
18
23
STL
16
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
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