The women’s basketball team lost to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, who took the game 72-54 on the Bucs’ turf in Brooks Gym. The Bucs now have an overall record of 1-5.
The teams went back and forth throughout the early stages of the first half, with neither team getting more than a four-point advantage for the first 10 minutes. The Bulldogs took the first half 19-16, with 10 of those being scored from second chance opportunities. The Bucs scored all 16 points with their starting five, with sophomore Amaya Adams (Kansas City, Mo.) leading in the first quarter with five points.
The Bucs continued to trail, but kept punching back with two baskets from junior Tijuana Kimbro (Memphis, Tenn.) and senior Arielle Harvey (Atlanta, Ga.). The Bulldogs continued the lead into the second half at 32-27.
Asheville extended their lead 43-33 after an 11-6 run, then nabbed an 18-point lead after a 13-2 run. The Bucs came back with six points from sophomore Shynia Jackson (Warner Robins, Ga) and sophomore E’Lease Stafford (Lawrence, Kan.) to cut the bulldogs lead to 10. In response, the Bulldogs forced the Bucs into three minutes without a basket going into the later moments of the game. The Bucs got as close as a 10-point deficit but couldn’t come any closer in attempts to end the Bulldogs lead.
The Bulldogs won the night 72-54, finished the night 26-61 (45.9%) from the field, and a 7-16 (43.8%) clip from behind the arc.
Junior Micah Sheetz (Knoxville, Tenn.) lead the Bucs for the third-straight game, scoring 14. Stafford recorded her first collegiate double-double, scoring 10 points and recording 10 rebounds. Jackson also finished the night recording double-digits with 11.
The women take the court next in Boone, North Carolina, on Monday, Nov. 25, where they will play Appalachian State at 6:30 p.m.
