Women’s Basketball Falls to UNC Asheville 65-62

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Taylor Deal and Jessica Jones both recorded double-doubles in points and rebounds but the Lions' women's basketball team lost at UNCA, 65-62 Wednesday night in the Justice Center. The contest against the local Division I rival was an exhibition game.

Grace Blaylock came off the bench to score 20 points to lead UNC Asheville. The Bulldogs also received 14 points from Lindsey Thompson and 11 rebounds from freshman center Abra Sickles. Blaylock was 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.

The Lions were led by three players in double figures. Brittini Young (Ramseur, N.C.) had a team-high 15 points, while Taylor Deal (Catawba, N.C.) and Jessica Jones (Chattanooga, Tenn.) added 14 points each. The duo pulled down 12 and 11 rebounds in the contest, respectively.

The game was tied at 51-51 when Blaylock hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to give the Bulldogs a 54-51 lead. She hit another trey with 3:58 left to push the Asheville lead to 57-53.

The home team never trailed but could not put Mars Hill away. The Lions closed to 61-60 on Young lay-up at the 20-second mark.

Blalock hit two free throws to extend the lead to 63-60. She hit another free throw at the 10-second mark to make it 64-60.

A jumper from Young made it 64-62. Thompson hit one free throw with 3.5 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 65-62 lead. A Mars Hill half-court short fell short giving Asheville the exhibition victory.

The Bulldogs went on a late run in the first half to build a 33-24 halftime lead. Asheville held the Lions scoreless for over six minutes to go from a 22-19 lead to a 32-19 margin. Blalock had two long 3-pointers in the run.

Mars Hill quickly got back in the game early in the second half. The visitors went on a 16-2 run over a four-minute stretch to go from trailing 35-26 to move ahead 42-37. Young fueled the run with eight points.

The Bulldogs rallied behind three-point shooting as they got a trey from Thompson at the 9:37 mark to lead 44-43.

Mars Hill hurt itself in the game with poor shooting from both the free throw line and three-point line. The Lions went 1-of-18 from beyond the arc and 11-of-24 from the charity stripe.

Asheville opens the regular season on Nov. 13 against Montreat College starting at 2 p.m. The Lions play another exhibition game vs. Davidson Saturday at 2 p.m.