University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, January 30
Asheville, NC
12 PM
UNC Asheville
8-14,3-6Big South
52
vs
54
Gardner-Webb
7-16,4-5Big South
1
2
3
4
F
Gardner-Webb
17
13
11
13
54
UNC Asheville
17
11
16
8
52
Women's Basketball Falters at Home Against Gardner-Webb
01.30.2026 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Women's Basketball faltered in Big South Conference action in a 54-52 loss to Gardner-Webb at home on Friday (Jan. 30).
Â
The teams traded scores through the first few minutes, before Asheville was able to stretch the lead to five through four minutes of play. Asheville posted six straight points with buckets from Nia Green, Deborah Orianegbena and Jamaria Freeman. Gardner-Webb outscored Asheville 12-7 in the back half of the quarter to send the game to the second quarter tied 17-17.
Â
Gardner-Webb scored the first six points of the second quarter through the first five minutes and change, while Asheville responded to get the game within three with two and a half minutes to play in the period. The Bulldogs scored four of the period's last seven points to cut the deficit to 30-28 at the half.
Â
Asheville responded winning the third quarter 16-11 to take a 44-41 lead to the fourth. The Bulldogs opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run, before the teams played to a 36-36 tie with three minutes to play in the quarter. Asheville out-scored Gardner-Webb 8-5 in the remainder of the period to take their lead to the fourth.
Â
Gardner-Webb won a low-scoring fourth quarter, scoring just 13 points and holding Asheville to just eight points in the period. Gardner-Webb took the lead on a bucket with just two seconds left for the road win.
Â
Asheville shot just 26.4 percent (14-53) from the floor, just 13.0 percent (3-23) and 77.8 percent (21-27) from the foul line in the game. Asheville outscored Gardner-Webb 14-4 on second chances, 11-8 on fast breaks and 14-12 off the bench while also scoring 15 points off turnovers and 20 points in the paint. Green paced the Bulldogs with her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 boards, marking the most double-doubles for a Bulldog in a season since Jessica Guarneri in 2001-02. Green's day also included a new career-best day at the charity stripe, shooting 7-10. Kristen McMillan added 11 points off the bench, while Freeman and Orianegbena each had eight points in the game. D'yanna Maxey added five points in the game, while Trinity Fields had two points and Jaidyn Koerdt also had one point. Journee McDaniel posted a game-high 11 rebounds in the game to go along with Green's double-digit effort, while Orianegbena had seven and McMillan also had six. Maxey posted three rebounds in the game, while Freeman had two and Fields, Sara Yarnell and Clementina Odom each had one rebound in the game. Green paced the Bulldogs with four assists in the game, while Maxey had three and Orianegbena and McDaniel each had one helper in the game. Freeman led the effort with three steals in the game, while Green and McDaniel each had two. Orianegbena and Maxey each had one steal in the game. Green also matched her career-high with three blocks, while McMillan also had one rejection in the game. Â Â
Â
The Bulldogs return to the floor on Wednesday (Feb. 4) at Charleston Southern in Big South Conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. from Charleston, S.C. with video, live stats and tickets 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 $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. 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.
Â
Â
The teams traded scores through the first few minutes, before Asheville was able to stretch the lead to five through four minutes of play. Asheville posted six straight points with buckets from Nia Green, Deborah Orianegbena and Jamaria Freeman. Gardner-Webb outscored Asheville 12-7 in the back half of the quarter to send the game to the second quarter tied 17-17.
Â
Gardner-Webb scored the first six points of the second quarter through the first five minutes and change, while Asheville responded to get the game within three with two and a half minutes to play in the period. The Bulldogs scored four of the period's last seven points to cut the deficit to 30-28 at the half.
Â
Asheville responded winning the third quarter 16-11 to take a 44-41 lead to the fourth. The Bulldogs opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run, before the teams played to a 36-36 tie with three minutes to play in the quarter. Asheville out-scored Gardner-Webb 8-5 in the remainder of the period to take their lead to the fourth.
Â
Gardner-Webb won a low-scoring fourth quarter, scoring just 13 points and holding Asheville to just eight points in the period. Gardner-Webb took the lead on a bucket with just two seconds left for the road win.
Â
Asheville shot just 26.4 percent (14-53) from the floor, just 13.0 percent (3-23) and 77.8 percent (21-27) from the foul line in the game. Asheville outscored Gardner-Webb 14-4 on second chances, 11-8 on fast breaks and 14-12 off the bench while also scoring 15 points off turnovers and 20 points in the paint. Green paced the Bulldogs with her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 boards, marking the most double-doubles for a Bulldog in a season since Jessica Guarneri in 2001-02. Green's day also included a new career-best day at the charity stripe, shooting 7-10. Kristen McMillan added 11 points off the bench, while Freeman and Orianegbena each had eight points in the game. D'yanna Maxey added five points in the game, while Trinity Fields had two points and Jaidyn Koerdt also had one point. Journee McDaniel posted a game-high 11 rebounds in the game to go along with Green's double-digit effort, while Orianegbena had seven and McMillan also had six. Maxey posted three rebounds in the game, while Freeman had two and Fields, Sara Yarnell and Clementina Odom each had one rebound in the game. Green paced the Bulldogs with four assists in the game, while Maxey had three and Orianegbena and McDaniel each had one helper in the game. Freeman led the effort with three steals in the game, while Green and McDaniel each had two. Orianegbena and Maxey each had one steal in the game. Green also matched her career-high with three blocks, while McMillan also had one rejection in the game. Â Â
Â
The Bulldogs return to the floor on Wednesday (Feb. 4) at Charleston Southern in Big South Conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. from Charleston, S.C. with video, live stats and tickets 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 $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. 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.
Â
Team Stats
GW
AVL
FG%
.364
.264
3FG%
.300
.130
FT%
.615
.778
RB
29
47
TO
21
27
STL
11
9
Game Leaders
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballHighlights || Women's Basketball || #9 UNC Asheville vs #1 High Point (Big South Tournament)
Thursday, March 14
Highlights || Women's Basketball || #9 UNC Asheville vs #8 Gardner-Webb (Big South Tournament)
Thursday, March 14
Highlights || Women's Basketball || UNC Asheville vs Radford
Monday, March 04
Highlights || Women's Basketball || UNC Asheville at Gardner-Webb
Monday, February 26