University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
9-15,3-8Big South
USC Upstate
14-10,9-2Big South
Women's Basketball Drops Tight Conference Contest to USC Upstate
02.10.2024 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Women's Basketball dropped a tight Big South Conference contest to USC Upstate on Saturday (Feb. 10) by a score of 71-65.
Asheville jumped out to a 10-0 lead through the first three minutes of the game, before Upstate countered with a run of their own to get within three with under four minutes to play in the period. Asheville would close the quarter on a run to take a 20-12 lead to the second.
Upstate responded by winning the second quarter 19-13 as Asheville took a 33-31 lead to the half.
Upstate opened the second half on a 10-0 run, before the Bulldogs eventually battled back to tie the game at 45 with under two minutes to play in the quarter. After the teams played to a 50-50 deadlock, Zora Fray-Chinn knocked down a three-pointer to give Upstate a 53-50 lead headed to the fourth.
The teams went back and forth through the first few minutes of the first quarter, eventually playing to a 59-59 tie with four and a half minutes to play. The teams ended up tied up at 62 with just over two minutes to play, before Upstate was able to string together scoring possessions to bring the contest to its final score.
Asheville shot 42.9 percent (21-49) from the field, a season-high 53.8 percent (7-13) from long range and 88.9 percent (16-18) from the foul line in the game. Asheville totaled 14 points off turnovers, 18 points in the paint, 12 points off second chances, two points on fast breaks and eight points off the bench in the game. Bruce led all scorers with 21 points in the game, her second 20-plus effort of the season. McKinley Brooks-Sumpter added 16 points in the game, while Jaila Lee and Abigail Wilson each had nine points. Jamaya Blanks and Dakota McCaughan each scored three points, while Faith Adams and Nycerra Minnis each had two points in the game. Asheville out-rebounded Upstate 29-24, led by six rebounds each from Bruce, Brooks-Sumpter and Minnis. Lee pulled down five rebounds in the game, while Adams, Blanks and McCaughan each had one. Brooks-Sumpter, Lee and Adams each had three assists in the game, while Blanks also had two. Brooks-Sumpter and Wilson each had two steals in the game, while Lee also had one. Minnis also posted two blocks in the game for Asheville.
The Bulldogs return to the floor on Wednesday (Feb. 14) at Presbyterian in Big South Conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. from the Templeton Center in Clinton, S.C., 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.
