ASHEVILLE, N.C. –  Despite a strong first quarter, Winthrop women's basketball struggled late against UNC Asheville Friday night, dropping Game 1 to the Bulldogs, 61-37. 

WINTHROP (6-14, 5-12 BSC)
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Maleeah Langstaff (10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block)
Madison Ervin (9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block)
Anika Riley (8 rebounds)

ASHEVILLE (9-10, 8-6 BSC)
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Nadiria Evans (14 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists)
Kai Carter (13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block)

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
A huge 11-1 run to open the contest gave Winthrop a comfortable lead after four minutes of play. The Bulldogs went off on an 8-2 run to end the first 10 minutes, cutting Winthrop's lead to four, 13-9. Junior Maleeah Langstaff had nine of Winthrop's 13 first-quarter points. Winthrop struck first in the second quarter off a basket at the hands of Anika Riley to extend its lead, 15-9. Asheville responded with a 12-1 run to take its first lead of the contest, 21-16. The Eagles were able to tie things up at 21 apiece but a 13-4 run, which consisted of three triples, gave Asheville a 34-23 lead at halftime.

Winthrop struggled in the third quarter, being outscored by the Bulldogs, 19-4. They were 2-for-15, shooting just over 13 percent. The Eagles held Asheville to just eight points in the fourth quarter but 44 points in the second and third quarter combined was too much for Winthrop to overcome. Asheville takes Game 1, 61-37.

THE NUMBERS

• Winthrop was outrebounded, 35-30
• The Eagles turned the ball over 14 times, resulting in 15 points for the Bulldogs
• Asheville committed 13 turnovers, with the Eagles scoring seven points off those mistakes
• Winthrop finished the contest 15-of-55 from the field (27.3 percent), 2-of-13 from 3-point range (15.4 percent) and 5-of-11 from the free throw line (45.5 percent)
• Asheville shot 45.5 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from deep and 60 percent from the charity stripe
• Antoaneta Alexe recorded a career-high six rebounds
• With eight rebounds against the Bulldogs, Anika Riley is just 41 rebounds away from 7^th place on the all-time rebounds list

 UP NEXT
The Eagles will make some adjustments and look to split the season series with the Bulldogs when these teams face off again tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 20. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.