November 24, 2007

Jasmine Dixon’s 16 points not enough as UNCG falls, 77-70 to UNC Asheville

GREENSBORO, NC – Despite having two players in double-digits, UNCG fell 77-70 to UNC Asheville in the consolation game of the 2007 UNCG Thanksgiving Classic Saturday afternoon in Fleming Gym. UNCG’s Jasmine Dixon was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts throughout the weekend.

“We were in this game,” said head coach Lynne Agee. “We had plenty of opportunities to win the game but down the stretch we couldn’t maintain our momentum or our composure. We will have to rebound as we have another game in a few days and we have no choice but to play better.”

Jasmine Dixon tallied her first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor to lead UNCG (0-5). Freshman Monique Floyd was also in double-figures with a career-high 13 points. Meghan Chamberlain and Floyd each tallied seven rebounds in the loss.

The Spartans shot 41.4 percent from the floor on 24-of-58 shooting and tallied a season high 47 rebounds in the loss. UNCG also collected a game-high 12 steals.

Ashton Barton tallied a game-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor to lead UNC Asheville (4-2). Lindsey Montgomery and Jessica Monroe were also in double-figures with 13 and 14 points, respectively. Monroe and Montgomery also had six rebounds in the win.

UNCG started the second half with a 6-2 run and was able to extend their lead to 46-39 at the first media timeout. Asheville was able to cut the lead to 46-41 on a set piece out of the timeout but UNCG responded with a bucket to keep the lead.

The Bulldogs were able to get it going from behind the arc as Chioma Okoli and Barton hit back to back three-pointers as Asheville cut the UNCG lead to 54-51 at the 11:37 mark.  Both teams couldn’t seem to find the bucket but UNCG was able to capitalize on several Asheville miscues at the free throw line and Kemena Brooks drained a three-pointer to give UNCG a 10-point lead, their largest of the afternoon, midway through the half.

Asheville wouldn’t go away and was able to cut the lead again to 63-59 with a bucket from Barton. The teams continued to match each other possession for possession but it was Asheville that got the hot hand down the stretch. Okoli hit Asheville’s sixth triple of the half triple of the night to cut the UNCG lead to one point with a little over six minutes remaining.

The team’s traded free throws but UNCG found themselves behind by five points with just over a minute to play. The Spartans tried to get back in the game but couldn’t stop Asheville down the stretch and dropped their fifth consecutive game.

UNCG got off to a quick start and hit their first shot, a jumper from Gini Grimsley take an early 2-0 lead but a foul on the ensuing possession and two free throws from Asheville’s Jessica Monroe tied the game. Asheville took a 4-2 lead with a bucket in the paint, but the Spartans used a bucket from Jasmine Dixon in the paint to take a 7-4 lead before an UNCA basket cut the lead to one point at the first media timeout of the half.

The teams battled for the next several minutes before Asheville was able to get a little momentum going and went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-11 lead at the 12:52 mark.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 18-13 midway through the half but the Spartans turned up the defense and cut the lead to three points with a layup from Jasmine Dixon. The Bulldogs responded with a bucket to keep the lead at four points at the 8:39 mark.

UNCG kept pressing and a three-pointer from Ashley Ling, the first of her career, cut the lead to four points and a blocking foul on the other end coupled with two free throws from Monique Floyd cut the lead to 23-21. The Spartans regained the lead on a three-pointer from Grimsley and forced several UNCA miscues to keep the lead.

UNCA to cut the lead to 30-27 but a bucket from Sharniece Wadelington kept the lead with the Spartans. Asheville’s Lindsey Montgomery hit a bucket from the right side to cut the lead to 32-29 with just under three minutes remaining in the first half but a UNCG bucket and a Asheville foul with seconds remaining gave UNCG a 36-33 lead at the break.

UNCG held a 25-15 rebounding advantage and shot a season-high 42.3 percent from the field in the first half. Senior forward Jasmine Dixon led the Spartans at the break with 12 points and 10 rebounds at the break.  The Spartans were also perfect from the charity stripe.

The Spartans will conclude their three-game homestand when they host Charlotte in non-conference action on Wednesday Nov. 28. Tip off is set for 7 pm in Fleming Gym.


AGATE
UNCA 77, UNCG 70

UNCA (4-2)
BARTON, Ashton 7-12 4-6 23; MONROE, Jessica 4-14 6-10 14; MONTGOMERY,Lindsey 4-11 5-6 13; SHEPARD, Stacy 3-6 3-3 9; BAKER, Ana 4-8 0-0 8; OKOLI, Chioma 2-9 0-0 6; JONES, Kyla 1-2 0-0 2; SHEPARD, Kendall 0-2 2-2 2; Moore, Arescia 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-64 20-27 77.

UNCG (0-5)
DIXON,Jasmine 6-9 4-6 16; FLOYD,Monique 4-8 5-9 13; GRIMSLEY,Gini 4-13 0-2 9; BROOKS,Kemena 3-9 2-2 9; CHAMBERLAIN,Meghan 1-2 6-6 8; FRAZIER,Brittany 3-5 2-2 8; WADELINGTON,S 2-5 0-0 4; LING,Ashley 1-4 0-0 3; SMITH,Kendra 0-0 0-0 0; MULLINS,Ashley 0-0 0-0 0; HYSON,Lakiah 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-58 19-27 70.

Halftime: UNCG 36-33; 3-point goals--UNCA 7-14 (BARTON, Ashton 5-8; OKOLI, Chioma 2-4; BAKER, Ana 0-2), UNCG 3-8 (LING,Ashley 1-1; BROOKS,Kemena 1-1; GRIMSLEY,Gini 1-6). Fouled out--UNCA-SHEPARD, Stacy, UNCG-FRAZIER,Brittany. Rebounds--UNCA 35 (MONROE, Jessica 6; MONTGOMERY, Lindsey 6), UNCG 47 (DIXON,Jasmine 11).Assists--UNCA 13 (BAKER, Ana 6), UNCG 11 (DIXON,Jasmine 3). Total fouls--UNCA 18, UNCG 24. Technical fouls--UNCA-None, UNCG-None. A-222

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Championship Game - North Carolina A&T 62, Boston University 54

GREENSBORO, NC - North Carolina A&T claimed the 2007 UNCG Thanksgiving Classic with a 62-42 win over Boston University in the championship game on Saturday afternoon at UNCG’s Fleming Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

North Carolina A&T (4-1) was led by Amber Bland who quietly had 20 points on 8-of-15 shootingfrom the floor while also tallying 12 rebounds in the win.

Boston University (4-2) has four players in double digits and was led by Kasey Devine who had 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor. The Terriers had three players with seven rebounds.

The Aggies tallied 51 rebounds on the afternoon and shot 36.2 percent from the field.

The Terriers were able to get the lead down to four points but North Carolina A&T was able to pull away in the second part of the half for their third consecutive victory.

The Aggies started the game quickly and led by 12 points at halftime led by seven points from Amber Bland on 3-of-6 shooting from the field. BU’s Cheri Raffo led the Terriers with five points on 2-of-8 shooting from the floor in the first stanza.

The Aggies had 33 rebounds and shot 35.5 percent from the field on 11-31 shooting from the floor in the first half while the Terriers were only 3-of-30 from the floor for a tournament low 10.0 percent from the field. BU was 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.

All-Tournament Team
Jasmine Dixon, UNCG
Ashton Barton, UNC Asheville
Ta’Wauna Cook, NC A&T
Kasey Devine, BU
Christine Kinneary, BU

Most Outstanding Player, Amber Bland, NC A&T

- UNCG -