Despite having three Bulldogs post double-digit performances, the UNC Asheville women’s basketball team dropped its first home game of the season, 61-58, to first-year Big South Conference member Hampton on Tuesday night in Kimmel Arena.
Jessica Wall led the game with 22 points, while Sonora Dengokl (13) and Nadiria Evans (10) were the other two Bulldogs in double figures.
BULLDOG BITES
Game Highlights
The Bulldogs were red-hot from first tip, as they jumped out to a 9-0 lead thanks to baskets from Wall, Dengokl, Ali Trani and Tiffany Wilson. Hampton trimmed the deficit to two points, 11-9, but the Bulldogs held a seven-point lead (16-9) after the first 10 minutes of play.
Behind Hampton’s Mahaley Holit’s seven points in the second quarter, the Lady Pirates trimmed the deficit to only one point at the halftime break, 26-25. UNC Asheville tallied 10 points in the second stanza, as Wall and Dengokl each tallied five points in the 10-minute session.
At the 15-minute break, Dengokl had a team-high nine points, while Wall had eight points. Both Bulldogs combined for seven made field goals and three assists.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle, as the Pirates knotted the game at 45-all at the end of the stanza. Both teams held an edge in the stanza, as Asheville had a four-point lead at the 9:50 mark and Hampton had a five-point lead with just under two minutes left.
The two clubs continued to battle it out in the fourth quarter, but Hampton fended off the potent Asheville attack and claimed the 61-58 victory. Wall was outstanding in the final 10 minutes of play, as she scored 11 points in the stanza. The Pirates tallied 10 of their 16 points in the paint in the final session to help shield off the Bulldogs.
Wall finished the league game with a game-high 22 points, as half of those points came in the fourth quarter alone. She connected with six 3-pointers and also earned four assists.
Dengokl had 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, and the senior guard also grabbed three rebounds in 35 minutes of play.
Evans was the final Bulldogs in double figures, as the sophomore totaled 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field. In her 20 minutes of play, she totaled four assists, five rebounds and a steal. All five of her rebounds came on the offensive glass.
As a team, UNC Asheville held the 41-38 advantage on the boards, and the Bulldogs shot a strong 40.4 percent (21-for-52) from the hardwood as well.
UNC Asheville drops to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in league action, while Hampton advances to 6-7 overall and 2-0 in Big South play.
What’s Next?
UNC Asheville will take a day off before hitting the road yet again on Thursday, Jan. 10 to square off with Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. inside Paul Porter Arena.
