ASHEVILLE, NC— Jessica Fansler scored 16 of her game-high 19 points in the second half to lead Winthrop to a 73-66 victory over UNC Asheville, Friday evening at the Justice Center.
The win is the first on the road in the Big South this year for the Lady Eagles, who improve to 13-16 overall and 7-8 in the league. UNC Asheville falls to 8-21 overall and 3-13 in the Big South.
Fansler opened up the second half by scoring eight straight points and 10 of the Lady Eagles first 14 second half points to help Winthrop get back in the game and take a 38-36 lead with just over 14 minutes remaining in the game. Lacey Lyons hit a three-pointer with 10:30 to go in the game to put Winthrop in front 45-38, but UNC Asheville responded as Lindsey Thompson beat everyone down the floor for an easy lay-in to make it 45-40. UNCA cut the lead to 47-43 as Dana Wagner came off the bench and drained a three from straight away. Fansler fired right back with a three of her own for a 50-47 advantage.
The lead was cut to 61-55 after a Kendall Shepard jumper off a turnover and Winthrop turned the ball over right after the basket, but UNCA gave it right back and Fansler hit another three off an offensive rebound.
“We definitely played better the second half,” said head coach Bud Childers. “Our defense tonight was not where it’s been but offensively we found our stride in the second half. We only turned the ball over three times in the second half. We were much more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor and managed to make enough stops on the other end. We fouled the shooter way too much tonight. I’m proud of the way we played in the second half. We had 39 points in the paint, which is a pretty good night.”
Winthrop shot 65 percent from the floor in the second half and only committed three turnovers as it tied its highest total for a half this season at 49.
It was difficult to pull away from the Bulldogs as they continued to get to the foul line and finished the game a perfect 23-for-23.
Much of the first half was back and forth that saw four ties and seven lead changes, but UNC Asheville finished the half on an 8-3 run for a 29-24 lead at the break. After TaQuoia Hammick scored inside to tie the game at 21-21, the Bulldogs reeled off six straight points behind back-to-back Shepard lay-ups and a short jumper by Kiana Rainey.
Neither team shot the ball very well in the first half, as Winthrop was 11-for-34 (34 percent) and 1-for-11 behind the arc. UNC Asheville was 9-for-27 (33 percent) as well as a perfect 10-for-10 at the foul line. Each team committed 10 turnovers.
Fansler also had a career-high five three pointers made en route to her 19 point performance. Cole added 16 points, 10 of which came in the second half. Cole also led the team with seven rebounds and had four assists. Chanel White came off the bench to score 11 points and Lyons put in nine points off the bench.
Rainey’s 16 points led four Bulldogs in double-figures as Shepard had 13 points, Lindsey Montgomery added 12 points and Thompson had 10.
Winthrop will travel to N. Charleston, SC on Monday for its regular season finale against Charleston Southern at 7 p.m.
