ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop women's basketball lost a close battle to UNC Asheville on Tuesday night, falling 50-43 at the Coliseum. The Eagles are now 9-10 on the season and 6-4 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Asheville opened the contest with a 7-0 run, holding the Eagles scoreless through the first six minutes of the game.
Jah'Che Whitfield broke the scoreless streak with a jumper at the 3:49 mark and again with 2:11 remaining. The Eagles trailed 15-4 after 10 minutes of play. The Eagles fought back in the second and were able to cut the Bulldogs lead to just five points at halftime thanks to an 8-0 run in the remaining two minutes. The Eagles were outscored 15-10 in the third and despite outscoring Asheville 11-8 in the fourth, the Eagles were unable to come back. Winthrop finished the game shooting 35 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range. Freshman
Myra Strickland went 4-of-6 from 3-point range and recorded a career-high 14 points.
KEY PLAYERS
Jah'Che Whitfield (15 points, 4 assists, 2 steals)
Myra Strickland (14 points, 4-of-6 from 3FG)
NOTABLES
- Winthrop committed just 10 turnovers, resulting in eight Asheville points.
- Ashville turned the ball over 15 times, resulting in 10 points for the Eagles.
- 14 of the Eagles 16 bench points came from Myra Strickland, who recorded a career high in points and went 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
- The Bulldogs attempted just eight 3-pointers, connecting on one.
- Winthrop attempted 21 3-pointers and hit six.
- Miquela Santoro is the only Winthrop player to attempt any free throws, going 1-for-2 from the line.
- Asheville made five trips to the free throw line, going 7-for-10.
- 22 of Asheville's 27 first-half points were in the paint.
500-REBOUND CLUB
Winthrop women's basketball recognized
Anika Riley on Tuesday night for reaching and surpassing the 500-rebound milestone at Gardner-Webb on January 6.
UP NEXT
Winthrop women's basketball will travel to High Point on Saturday to take on the Panthers at 2 p.m. The Eagles and Panthers met earlier in the season – on New Year's Eve at the Coliseum – where the home team won, 69-63. Winthrop overcame a 14 point deficit to win its fourth straight led by junior
Anika Riley who finished with a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double, the seventh of her collegiate career.
Miquela Santoro contributed 12 points, while
Maleeah Langstaff chipped in 11 boards of her own. Skyler Curran led the Panthers with 19 points and six rebounds. Callie Scheier (12) and Camryn Brown (10) also finished in double figures.
