University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, November 24
San Juan, PR
4 pm
UNC Asheville
vs
Morgan State
Women's Basketball Takes on Morgan State, Western Michigan in the Thanksgiving Clasico
11.23.2023 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Women's Basketball will take on Morgan State and Western Michigan at the Thanksgiving Clasico in San Juan, Puerto Rico this week. The Bulldogs face Morgan State on Friday, Nov. 24, and will battle Western Michigan on Saturday (Nov. 25). Both games are set for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off from the Colesio Ruben Rodriguez.
Game Day Information
Watch
Live Stats
Fan Information
About the Bulldogs - Asheville comes into the tournament at 2-2 overall after a 67-53 win over Queens (N.C.) back on Tuesday (Nov. 21). Asheville ranks eighth in the Big South Conference in scoring at 58.0 points per game, while also ranking third in the Big south in scoring defense allowing 57.3 points per game. Asheville also ranks fourth in the conference in rebounding at 37.0 rebounds per game, while ranking fifth in opponent rebounding average allowing 38.3 rebounds per game. LaImani Simmons (10.3 PPG) and Jaila Lee (10.0 PPG) rank 10th and 11th in the Big South respectively in scoring, while Lee is also tied for ninth in rebounding at 5.5 rebounds per game. McKinley Brooks-Sumpter leads the team in assists per game at 2.0, while Lee is tied for ninth in steals per game at 1.5. Nycerra Minnis is also eighth in the league in blocks per game (0.8).
About Morgan State - Morgan State comes into the tournament at 2-2 overall, after a 62-48 loss to Davidson on Nov. 18. Morgan State ranks fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in scoring at 59.3 points per game, while also ranking second in scoring defense at 53.5 points per game. Morgan State is also fifth in the conference in rebounding at 35.8 rebounds per game, while ranking second in rebounding defense allowing opponents 36.3 rebounds per game. Kaia Ponder leads the team and ranks ninth in the league in scoring at 11.3 points per game, while Gabrielle Johnson ranks 12th in the league at 10.0 points per game. Joelle Johnson is fifth in the conference in rebounds at 8.5 rebounds per game, while Ponder is also 14th at 5.0 rebounds per game. Gabrielle Johnson is sixth in the league in assists per game at 2.5, while Ponder is also tied for 13th in the league at 1.8 assists per game. Gabrielle Johnson is also second in the league in steals per game at 2.8, while Ponder is tied for fifth (2.0). Ponder also leads the league in blocks per game at 2.3.
About Western Michigan - Western Michigan comes into the game at 1-2 on the season after a 54-52 win over Youngstown State back on Nov. 16. The Broncos rank 11th in the Mid-American Conference in scoring at 63.2 points per game, while also ranking eighth in scoring defense at 69.1 points per game. Western Michigan also ranks 11th in the MAC in rebounding at 32.0 rebounds per game, while also 11th in rebounding defense allowing 37.8 rebounds per game. Taylor Williams leads the team and is tied for 13th in the conference in scoring at 14.7 points per game, while also ranking third in rebounding at 9.0 rebounds per game. Alli Carson leads the team in assists per game at 4.0, while Megan Wagner is second on the team at 3.3 assists per game. Gabi Saxman (2.0) and Hannah Spitzley (1.9) are fifth and sixth in the conference respectively in steals per game, while Williams is third in the league in blocks per game (1.6).
Series History - This will be the second all-time meeting between Asheville and Morgan State, and the first since 2006. Asheville won the first meeting 63-45 back on Nov. 17, 2006. This will be the second all-time meeting between Asheville and Western Michigan, and the first since 2009. Western Michigan topped Asheville 64-53 back on Dec. 29, 2009.
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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Game Day Information
Watch
Live Stats
Fan Information
About the Bulldogs - Asheville comes into the tournament at 2-2 overall after a 67-53 win over Queens (N.C.) back on Tuesday (Nov. 21). Asheville ranks eighth in the Big South Conference in scoring at 58.0 points per game, while also ranking third in the Big south in scoring defense allowing 57.3 points per game. Asheville also ranks fourth in the conference in rebounding at 37.0 rebounds per game, while ranking fifth in opponent rebounding average allowing 38.3 rebounds per game. LaImani Simmons (10.3 PPG) and Jaila Lee (10.0 PPG) rank 10th and 11th in the Big South respectively in scoring, while Lee is also tied for ninth in rebounding at 5.5 rebounds per game. McKinley Brooks-Sumpter leads the team in assists per game at 2.0, while Lee is tied for ninth in steals per game at 1.5. Nycerra Minnis is also eighth in the league in blocks per game (0.8).
About Morgan State - Morgan State comes into the tournament at 2-2 overall, after a 62-48 loss to Davidson on Nov. 18. Morgan State ranks fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in scoring at 59.3 points per game, while also ranking second in scoring defense at 53.5 points per game. Morgan State is also fifth in the conference in rebounding at 35.8 rebounds per game, while ranking second in rebounding defense allowing opponents 36.3 rebounds per game. Kaia Ponder leads the team and ranks ninth in the league in scoring at 11.3 points per game, while Gabrielle Johnson ranks 12th in the league at 10.0 points per game. Joelle Johnson is fifth in the conference in rebounds at 8.5 rebounds per game, while Ponder is also 14th at 5.0 rebounds per game. Gabrielle Johnson is sixth in the league in assists per game at 2.5, while Ponder is also tied for 13th in the league at 1.8 assists per game. Gabrielle Johnson is also second in the league in steals per game at 2.8, while Ponder is tied for fifth (2.0). Ponder also leads the league in blocks per game at 2.3.
About Western Michigan - Western Michigan comes into the game at 1-2 on the season after a 54-52 win over Youngstown State back on Nov. 16. The Broncos rank 11th in the Mid-American Conference in scoring at 63.2 points per game, while also ranking eighth in scoring defense at 69.1 points per game. Western Michigan also ranks 11th in the MAC in rebounding at 32.0 rebounds per game, while also 11th in rebounding defense allowing 37.8 rebounds per game. Taylor Williams leads the team and is tied for 13th in the conference in scoring at 14.7 points per game, while also ranking third in rebounding at 9.0 rebounds per game. Alli Carson leads the team in assists per game at 4.0, while Megan Wagner is second on the team at 3.3 assists per game. Gabi Saxman (2.0) and Hannah Spitzley (1.9) are fifth and sixth in the conference respectively in steals per game, while Williams is third in the league in blocks per game (1.6).
Series History - This will be the second all-time meeting between Asheville and Morgan State, and the first since 2006. Asheville won the first meeting 63-45 back on Nov. 17, 2006. This will be the second all-time meeting between Asheville and Western Michigan, and the first since 2009. Western Michigan topped Asheville 64-53 back on Dec. 29, 2009.
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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Players Mentioned
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