Women’s basketball will take the court for the first time this season on Friday night when they host Mars Hill College in an exhibition match at the Justice Center. This will be a challenging season for the Bulldogs. The team is in a transitional period and must find its identity and leadership. If Asheville is able to do so, however, the Big South race is wide open.
UNC Asheville finished the 2008-2009 campaign with a 10-20 overall record, and a 7-9 mark in conference play. Although that placed the Bulldogs seventh in the conference, they were only three games out of second place. Asheville loses two starters from last season – guard Ana Baker and forward Jessica Monroe. Baker will be particularly difficult to replace. As a senior captain, she led the Bulldogs in scoring, assists, and steals, and was named first team all-conference. The starters that return were all productive last season, but will have to carry a much greater scoring load without Baker. Junior guard Chioma Okoli is the leading returning scorer at 8.7 points per game. Junior forward Lindsey Montgomery averaged 7.6 points and 6 rebounds, and led last year’s squad in blocks. Kendall Shepard, the final returning starter, averaged 6.6 points per game and is the likely choice to replace Baker at the point this season. Forward Linda Aughburns can expect to play a much bigger role in this year’s edition. The sophomore led the team with 6.4 rebounds per game last year, despite coming off the bench most of the season. Aughburns was named to the Big South all-rookie team.
With no double-digit scorer returning and no seniors on the roster, newcomers and inexperienced players will have the opportunity to prove themselves and earn big minutes for the Bulldogs. UNC Asheville has five freshmen on the roster who hope to make an immediate impact. Another key newcomer is junior guard Dana Wagner. Wagner is a transfer from junior college, where she was named first team All-American last season after leading her team in scoring, three-point percentage, free throws made, and free throw percentage. Wagner has already demonstrated her shooting touch here in Asheville – she was crowned champion of the three-point contest during Jammin’ at the Justice.
Mars Hill finished up last season with a 12-16 mark (5-11 South Atlantic Conference). The Lions return three starters from last season, including junior guard Brittini Young. Young was named second team all-conference last season after leading the South Atlantic in points per game (16.6) and free throw percentage (.865). At media day, the Lions were picked to finish eighth in the nine-team conference.
Tip-off will be at 7:00 on Friday. Come out to the Justice Center for an early look at the Bulldogs.
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