2018-19 UNC Asheville Women’s Basketball Media Guide
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (0-0, 0-0 Big South)
Charlotte (0-0, 0-0 Big South)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Halton Arena)
Date/Time: Thursday, Nov. 8 / 7 p.m.
Live Stream: C-USA TV
Live Stats: charlotte49ers.com
Twitter: @UNCAvlWBB #ThePursuit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – To open the 2018-19 campaign, the UNC Asheville women’s basketball team travels to Charlotte for a midweek matchup at Halton Arena on Thursday, Nov. 8.
Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
BULLDOG BITES
About UNC Asheville
The Bulldogs are fresh off their third straight season of playing in postseason basketball. UNC Asheville hosted its first-ever postseason tournament last year (Women’s Basketball Invitational) but was edged by Furman, 65-64, on a last second bucket. Prior to the WBI last season, UNC Asheville won back-to-back Big South Championships and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in both seasons.
Last year UNC Asheville went 17-16 overall and 12-6 in Big South Conference play. Prior to the 2017-18 campaign the Bulldogs were predicted to finish fifth. However they finished third and played in their third consecutive Big South Championship. With its 12 wins in conference play it marked the second time the Bulldogs have won 12 or more Big South contests in a season. The other occurrence was during the 2015-16 campaign, which was also under the guidance of current head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick.
UNC Asheville had several records broken last year. Bronaza Fitzgerald broke the UNC Asheville Division I single-season record for rebounds with 319 boards. Current senior Jessica Wall tallied nine made three-pointers versus Furman in the WBI for the most ever in a single game. She also broke the single-season mark for most made three-pointers in a season (90). Khaila Webb also joined the UNC Asheville record book last season, as she finished her illustrious career with 1,109 points. That currently ranks her eighth in UNC Asheville Division I career scoring and 13th in the all-time program history in career points.
Despite losing two key players from last season (Fitzgerald and Webb) the Bulldogs bring back a plethora of experience. In fact, Asheville has six seniors on the current roster – Alexis Toney, Wall, Sonora Dengokl, Kelli Fisher, Tiffany Wilson and Ali Trani. Also returning from last year’s squad are three juniors (Zip Scott, Juliet Esadah and Brooke Jordan-Brown) and three sophomores (Nadiria Evans, Amaryah Corpening and Tamiah Lewis). Joining the 2018-19 Bulldogs for their inaugural season are three freshmen – Evonna McGill, Jimeshia Lawson and Skye Green.
At the 2018-19 Big South Media Day in Charlotte, N.C. the Bulldogs were selected to finish third. The Bulldogs received 100 points in the preseason poll, which included five second-place votes. Also highlighting the annual event was Wall being selected to the Preseason Big South First Team. The Chapel Hill, N.C. native led UNC Asheville last season in three-pointers made (90), three-pointers made per game (2.7), three-point percentage (.395), steals (37) and minutes per game (34.8). Entering her final year at UNC Asheville, Wall has 637 career points, 215 assists, 148 three-pointers made, 218 field goals made and 99 games played.
Scouting Charlotte
Charlotte finished last year 14-16 overall and 10-6 in Conference USA games. It posted an impressive 9-4 mark in home games last year.
The 49ers played an exhibition game earlier this year against Chowan, and they downed the Hawks, 78-44.
This season Charlotte has a pair of seniors on the roster in Ka’Neeshia Brown and Laia Raventos.
Raventos is one of the key players on the 49ers roster, as the guard was named to the 2018-19 C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team. Highlighting her senior preseason was being named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List. Last season Raventos earned All-Conference USA First Team and USA Defensive Team honors. In that same season Raventos tallied 14.3 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per contest. She started all 30 games and totaled over 1,000 minutes on the hardwood. In her career she has 922 points, 2,750 minutes played, 82 starts, a .445 field-goal percentage, a .445 three-point percentage and 200 steals.
Also returning to the 49ers’ roster after a strong season last year is Octavia Jett-Wilson. The current sophomore played in all 30 games last year (28 starts) and averaged 10.1 points per game. She shot .398 percent from the field and tallied 56 assists.
All-Time History Versus Charlotte
Thursday’s contest marks the 10th all-time meeting between the two clubs. Both UNC Asheville and Charlotte have only played three times since the 2008-09 season.
UNC Asheville won its first head-to-head matchup against the 49ers during the 1996-97 season, 55-41.
Charlotte has claimed six straight victories over the Bulldogs, including a 51-47 win last year in Asheville. Webb tallied 10 points in last year’s game, while Wall posted eight points, two steals and two three-pointers made.
How To Follow The Game Live
The game at Charlotte will be streamed on C-USA TV. The stream stream link can be found by clicking HERE. The game is premium content and requires a subscription to view the content. However, live stats will be available for free, and the link can be found by clicking HERE.
What’s Next?
The Bulldogs will end their two-game road swing on Wednesday, Nov. 14 with a trip to Knoxville, Tenn. to square off with No. 11 Tennessee. The game will tip at 7 p.m. inside Thompson-Bowling Arena and will be streamed on the SEC Network Plus.
