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1 tiursdav, .VaciiiIxt 2*), 2007
SPORTS
Page 4
Kclsc\ Hcnortlcn
Volleyball
comes on
strong for
finish
'['he vollcyhall team dominated
highly anticipated rival High
(^)int I'niversity in the Hig South
Tournament quarterfinals, but
were unable to defeat former
five time Big Soutfi champs
Winthrop University in the semi
finals.
"I thought the team played well
together and had other stand-out
, efforts," said
7 h
Bulldogs
21) won
opening
S o u
To u r n a m e n t
quarterfinals
match 3-2
against [iigh
[’oint (24-9) Thursday afternoon
in l.ynchburg, Va., at the Vines
Center.
"It was a great match to start
tlie tournament.' Torbett said.
The Bulldogs tiKik a quick two-
point lead in the first game, but
High I’oint managed to take con
trol and finished with a 30-2.S win
over the Bulldogs,
"High I’oint was heavily
favored going into the match,
with a 24-8 record, but I thought
we could beat them with a solid
performance from the team,"
Torbett said.
I reshman Kelsey Benorden led
defense, bretiking a UNC
Asheville ;md Vines Center
record w ith .34 kills for the match.
“'This was a tremendous
accomplishment as a freshman,"
'Torbett said.
Raquel .Mioito. sophomore, had
a leading 2,3 digs, which niiide
her 14th with over 20 digs.
High I’oint led the second game
after the Bulldogs got the first
|K)int, and kept the score close.
The Bulldogs aced the third
game with a final score of 30-27,
but High I’oint managed a come
back for the fourtli game and t(X)k
the win. In the fifth and final
game. Asheville regained control
of the match anil pulled a solid
1.3-10 victory from High Point.
Wrightenberry broke a schixil
record when she had six bliKk
assists, racking up a total 343
block assists for the season.
'The Bulldogs went to the semi
finals Triday afternoon, but
Winthrop (20-11) dominated the
match 3-1.
"The Winthrop match was the
semifinal in the single elimina
tion touniament, and we knew
they would be tough," Torbett
said.
Winthrop made it hard for the
Bulldogs to catcli up once they
tiH)k a nine-point lead in the first
game, and they won 30-18.
"They are five time defending
champions and had .Shannon
Sit/inann, the player of the year,
on their side." Torbett said.
The Bulldogs fell short again as
Winthrop controlled the second
game. Winthrop led the match up
to their .30-17 win.
"We didn't stail out well and
played tentative in the first two
sets." Torbett said. "At the break,
we regained our confidence and
won game three."
Senior Ashley W'rightenbcrry
had six bliK'k assists for the
match, which bixtsted her all-
time record to 331.
"We were very pleased that she
earned 12 blix.'k assi.sts during the
touniament. to become the all-
time leader in bliK'k assist."
Torbett said. "It was a great way
for her to end her career."
Benorden and Miotto racked up
16 digs each, Brixike Holliday
behind them with another 12
digs,
"We carried a lot of momentum
into the fourth game and 1 was
confident it would go five games,
but they ended up making a push
that we couldn't counter," Torbett
said.
With a total 3(X) kills for the
season. Benorden earned a spot
on the Big South C'onference All-
Tournament team.
6-1 this season... That’s more like it!
1 lie merits basketball team has been on a roll, winning six of their seven games, setting school
and conference records while narrowly facing defeat at the hands of East Tennessee State
Hy Devon Dow
The men's basketball team has been
on a tear early this season. After going
.3 1 over Thanksgiving break the
Bulldogs first ganx; back in fmnt of
their l;uis produced their sixth victory
of the season as they defeated
Tusculum College 84-73.
"I was pleased with the team per-
f'onnaiKe tonight," said Head Coach
liddie Biedenbach. "The team played
well together, and got some gixxl
lixiks at the basket.'The men's bas
ketball team has been on a tear early
this season. Following Thanksgiving
break the Bulldogs first game back in
front of their fans pnxluced their sixth
victory of the season as they defeated
Tusculum College 84-73
"I was pleased with the team per-
fonnance tonight." said Head Coach
laldie Biedenbach. “The team played
well together, and got some gixxl
Iixiks at the basket,"
Junior Center Kenny Geoige sat out
lor the Bulldogs game and the team
showed that they could pick up the
defensive gap that George leaves
when he is on the bench acairding to
Biedenbiich.
C'oming back fmm injury, senior
guard Bryan .Smithson led the
Bulldogs in scoring with 26 points.
Before the end of the first half
Smithson hit a three point shot at the
bu/./.er after receiving a no lixtk
behind the back pass fntm senior
giuu-d KJ. Garland who also had
luxither solid night for the Bulldogs.
"TTiey were a tough team to guard,”
Smithson said. " I felt that the game
was tix) long for them, they slowed
down in the second half”
A
Mr.'l'riple IJouble in^es hLsIory
Junior Kenny Geoige recorded the
first ever triple double in schixtl histo
ry as the Bulldogs remain perf'c'ct for
the season with their win 83-71 over
C'ampbell University.
"I heard afterwards that I had the
triple double but that wasn't tixr
important to me," Geoige said. “We
won the game, tuid it tixik more than
my effort to get it done, that was the
most im(X)rtant thing to me."
Clint Latminghouse - Stait Photographer
Fresliinan .John Williaiiis goes up for a dunk against T urman University in the Bulldogs first victory of the
sea.son. I he 6'4'' forward is second on the team in blocks with eight for the season.
George scored 20 points, snagged
12 rebounds and blix'kcd 10 shots
during the game.
"Kenny is a force on the court." said
Biedenbach. "As along as he is
healthy and able to be out there for us
on the court, there is no doubt in my
mind that he can have [X-ifoimtuices
like that anytime he wants to.
He’s ;ui un.selfish player and does a
gtxxl job setting up other players on
the te;im to make easy baskets."
The Bulldogs were down by 12 a
halftime before out-scoring Campbell
49-30 in the second half, leading to
their fourth consecutive victory.
“It always feels good to win
George said. “The fact that everyboih
got out there and had a good gami
shows a lot of promise for our team
this year J think K J. had a great game
and we got a lot of help off the bench
We need that kind of teamwoik to win
every game we play.”
The Bulldogs had contributions
from its starters as well as strong
bench play. Senior guard K J. Garland
recorded 23 points, six rebounds and
seven assists.
Freshman forward John WilliaiiB
contributed 11 points on the Bulldog
bench and senior Vincent James
added 11 points with a perfect 7-for-]
from the free throw line.
“Our guys have really been putting
in the work during practice this year,
and their hunger to play, and win
shows in their performances,”
Beidenbach said. “This was one of the
best games that K J. Garland has ever
played for us. He did a wonderful job
mnning our offense and hit some big
shots when we had to have them.”
The Bulldogs set a school and con
ference record for block shots in a
game with 16.
“A lot of people may think that 1 am
the one doing all of the blocking on
defense but people should start
watching John Williams play,”
George said. “ All of our guys play
good defense down low, but some
times John comes out of nowhere,
makes my job easier.”
Garland hits 1)000 point mark
Senior forward "Vincent James does
it again for the Bulldogs leading the
team in scoring with a career high of
22 points as the Bulldogs defeated
rival Western Carolina University 83-
73 extending their record to five
straight wins. It was the Bulldogs
first win in the Ramsey Center
since the 2(X) 1-2002 season.
“Our team picked up a big win
on the road,” Beidenbach said.
SEE Winners page 51
‘Dogs overcome 10 point deficit to down UNCG
B\ Nora Stoney & Devon Dow
Si\M Wriur & Swwis HoirtMt
.Senior guard Ashton Barton hit
five three-pointers on her way to
scoring 23 points as the Bulldogs
ilefeated UNC Greensboro 77-70
in the consolation game of the
UNC'G Thanksgiving tournament.
"It was a big win for us," Barton
said. "It was nice to come out of
the tournament with a victory. We
are a young team, but in this game
we pulled it together and never
gave up which helped lead us to
victory."
The Bulldogs trailed 63-33 with
8:43 left to play before Barton hit
her first of four second half three-
pointers.
I With both
teams exchang
ing baskets the
tempo was ulti
mately gained by
the Bulldogs as
Junior guard Ana
Baker's driving
lay-up was fol
lowed by fresh-
.\na Baker man guard
Chioma Okoli's
three-pointer which pulled the
Bulldogs within one, 63-64 with
6:40 to play.
"Our girls did a grxxi job of
keeping their composure," said
Head Coach Betsy Blose. "I was
impressed by the professionalism
of our girls in the second half.
They stayed in there and fought
for every rebound and pxiint they
scored. They deserved to win this
game."
The Bulldogs tied the game at 65
as Jessica Monrix; hit one of her
two free throws with five minutes
to play in the game.
"The Bulldogs took their first
lead since the 6:20 mark of the
first half when Barton hit her third
Freshman forward I indsev Montgomery was selected the Big South Freshman ofVhrWeek The sirdonT
freshman averaged 11 points per game and shot 56 percent from the floor during the Bulldogs 2-Utarl
straight three-point shot to put the
Bulldogs up 68-67 with four min
utes left.
"1 was getting gixxl looks at the
basket, and there was not a lot of
pressure on me as 1 tixik the shots.
So, those factors alone made it
easy to hit the shots." Barton said.
"It felt gixxl to make those shots
for our team, but it was even better
to get the win."
After Barton's three-pointer, the
Bulldogs never trailed again.
Asheville went 7-for-9 from the
free throw line toward the end of
the game to seal its first ever win
over UNCG in Greensboro.
Monrix; had 14 points and six
rebounds and freshman forward
Lindsey Montgomery finished
with 13 points and six rebounds.
"Its good to get wins against
programs like UNCG." Barton
said. "It proves to us that we are
able to compete against schools in
larger divisions than our own. I
am sure it sends a message to the
teams that w. playing as
well."
The win was the first for the
women's basketball team when
trailing at halftime this season.
The Bulldogs shot 44 percent in
their game deciding the second
half.
They also went 20-27 from the
free throw line in the game for a
season high of 74 percent.
Baker named player of the
week
Choice Hotels Player of the Week
in women’s basketball.
“Ana’s performance this year
has been a big boost for our team,
said Head Coach Betsy Blose.
“She deserves the award. Ana has
had to step up her game this year
for us. She’s a great leader, and she
has a passion to win.”
Baker, junior from Odenton.
Md., averaged 12 points per game,
dished out 19 assists and came
away with 17 steals to lead the
Bulldogs to a 2-1 record for the
week.
“Ana has the ability to motivate
our younger players with her work
ethic and passion the court,” Blose
said. Defense is a key part to her
game and shows when she .
Baker started her week with
points on 5-12 from the floor for a
42 percent clip with seven assistS'
four rebounds and a school recor
tying eight steals as the Bulldogs
downed Montreat on Nov. 12.
Four days later at home agmns
Davidson in the Carolina Firs
Tournament, Baker recorded
points as she connected on o-
field goals and 2-of-3 from thre
point land. . ,
Baker also chipped in °
assists, four steals and thre
boards in the game against
She helped the Bulldogs close
the weekend out with a win w'
12 points on 63 percent
from the floor and l-of-2 }
beyond the arc against Gar n
Webb the next day. j
' assists and
with five steals
She dished out eight assists 
came away with five steals
five rebounds against Gar n
Webb.
For Baker’s
efforts