University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, February 21
Asheville, NC
2 PM
UNC Asheville
11-17,6-9Big South
76
vs
58
Presbyterian
3-24,1-13Big South
1
2
3
4
F
Presbyterian
10
18
15
15
58
UNC Asheville
14
17
27
18
76
Bulldogs Score Senior Day Victory over Presbyterian on Homecoming Saturday
02.21.2026 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Women's Basketball scored a 76-58 Senior Day win on Homecoming Saturday (Feb. 21) inside Kimmel Arena.
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Asheville led 14-10 after a low-scoring defensive first quarter, in which the Bulldogs led by as many as six. Presbyterian outscored UNC Asheville 18-17 in the second quarter, closing the gap to just three at the half. The Bulldogs stretched their lead to as many as seven in the frame, but Presbyterian stayed within striking distance as the teams headed to the half with Asheville leading just 31-28.
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Asheville used a big third quarter to pull away in the game, outscoring Presbyterian 27-15 in the frame. Presbyterian tied the game at 33 early in the period, before the Bulldogs went on a 12-3 run over a four-minute span to force a PC timeout. The run consisted of a three-pointer from Journee McDaniel and a bucket from Aileen Marquez, a free throw from Deborah Orianegbena and back-to-back triples from Marquez and McDaniel. The run continued out of the time out with two straight scores from D'yanna Maxey, before Jamaria Freeman hit a pair of free throws on two separate possessions. The Bulldogs led 58-43 heading to the fourth.
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Asheville outscored Presbyterian 18-15 in the fourth quarter to bring the game to its final score. The Bulldogs held a double-digit lead for the entire fourth quarter on their way to the Senior Day victory.
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Asheville shot 43.5 percent (27-62) from the floor, 36.0 percent (9-25) from long range and just 56.5 percent (13-23) from the foul line in the game. Asheville out-scored 17-11 off turnovers, 32-30 in the paint and 10-7 on second chances while also scoring 15 points on fastbreaks and 15 points off the bench. Freeman paced the Bulldog offense 17 points including a career-high 10-14 from the foul line, while Nia Green added 13 points in the game. McDaniel and Maxey each added 12 points in the contest, while Marquez also scored 11 points off the bench. Orianegbena scored seven points in the game, while Kristen McMillan and Trinity Fields each scored two points in the game. Orianegbena pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds in the game, while McDaniel also had five and Green had four. Freeman, Maxey and Marquez each had three rebounds in the game, while McMillan recorded two rebounds and Fields also had one. Freeman led the way with six assists in the game, while Maxey finished one off her career-high with five and Orianegbena and McMillan each registered two helpers in the game. Green, McDaniel and Marquez each had one assist in the game. Freeman and Orianegbena each had three steals in the game with Orianegbena matching her career-high, while McDaniel and Sara Yarnell each had two and Maxey and Marquez each had one steal in the game. Green posted a career-high four blocks in the game, while Freeman and McDaniel each had two and Marquez also had one.
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The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season on Wednesday (Feb. 25) at Winthrop in Big South Conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. from Rock Hill, 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.
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Asheville led 14-10 after a low-scoring defensive first quarter, in which the Bulldogs led by as many as six. Presbyterian outscored UNC Asheville 18-17 in the second quarter, closing the gap to just three at the half. The Bulldogs stretched their lead to as many as seven in the frame, but Presbyterian stayed within striking distance as the teams headed to the half with Asheville leading just 31-28.
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Asheville used a big third quarter to pull away in the game, outscoring Presbyterian 27-15 in the frame. Presbyterian tied the game at 33 early in the period, before the Bulldogs went on a 12-3 run over a four-minute span to force a PC timeout. The run consisted of a three-pointer from Journee McDaniel and a bucket from Aileen Marquez, a free throw from Deborah Orianegbena and back-to-back triples from Marquez and McDaniel. The run continued out of the time out with two straight scores from D'yanna Maxey, before Jamaria Freeman hit a pair of free throws on two separate possessions. The Bulldogs led 58-43 heading to the fourth.
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Asheville outscored Presbyterian 18-15 in the fourth quarter to bring the game to its final score. The Bulldogs held a double-digit lead for the entire fourth quarter on their way to the Senior Day victory.
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Asheville shot 43.5 percent (27-62) from the floor, 36.0 percent (9-25) from long range and just 56.5 percent (13-23) from the foul line in the game. Asheville out-scored 17-11 off turnovers, 32-30 in the paint and 10-7 on second chances while also scoring 15 points on fastbreaks and 15 points off the bench. Freeman paced the Bulldog offense 17 points including a career-high 10-14 from the foul line, while Nia Green added 13 points in the game. McDaniel and Maxey each added 12 points in the contest, while Marquez also scored 11 points off the bench. Orianegbena scored seven points in the game, while Kristen McMillan and Trinity Fields each scored two points in the game. Orianegbena pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds in the game, while McDaniel also had five and Green had four. Freeman, Maxey and Marquez each had three rebounds in the game, while McMillan recorded two rebounds and Fields also had one. Freeman led the way with six assists in the game, while Maxey finished one off her career-high with five and Orianegbena and McMillan each registered two helpers in the game. Green, McDaniel and Marquez each had one assist in the game. Freeman and Orianegbena each had three steals in the game with Orianegbena matching her career-high, while McDaniel and Sara Yarnell each had two and Maxey and Marquez each had one steal in the game. Green posted a career-high four blocks in the game, while Freeman and McDaniel each had two and Marquez also had one.
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The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season on Wednesday (Feb. 25) at Winthrop in Big South Conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. from Rock Hill, 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.
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Team Stats
Presb
AVL
FG%
.418
.435
3FG%
.444
.360
FT%
.500
.565
RB
36
39
TO
27
21
STL
5
12
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
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