Photo by iorja Smith- Staff Photographer
rr;,ce Blavlock looks for a way around Coastal Carolina's Angelica Henry on Saturday.
Women’s basketball remains winless in Big South
Randal Walton
rwalton@unca.edu - Asst. Sports Editor
Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the worn-
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games to Charleston Southern and Coastal
“We have tons of injuries, but, I want these kids
i 4- wp’re Still accountable for the result,
“ch B«nd. Kirkpatrick. “Wc have to
pi y Sgh .hose Utings and we have .0 respond. And
“^S;S.ril=Srpadot.he,ea„,
fortunately "^ustments and continue to play
worked hard ^ j^yers are still an integral
hard each game. Our J . ^ nnsitive enercv
part of the team and continue to add positive energy
us some positive momentum as we head into the last
few games of the season,” she said.
Kirkpatrick really wants the wins for the players
whose last games at UNC Asheville evolve into special
memories.
“We’ve got three seniors on our team. They’re all
three starters, so they impact the game,” the Waynes-
ville native said. “I’m excited for them because every
game is special when you’re a senior. Every game is
your last opportunity, and we’Ve only got four home
games left. So I’m really hoping for a win for them as
well.”
In the loss against Charleston Southern last Thursday,
senior forward Kelli Riles opened the scoring. Blay
lock said early scores from Charleston Southern forced
the team to play catch-up.
“We let them get some early baskets which gave them
confidence,” Blaylock, a health and wellness promo
tion student, said. “We have to work to set the tone on
our home court early in the game to help put us in a
position to win.”
Protecting the ball and their house remains important
during home games, said Kirkpatrick.
■For us, it’ll be taking care of the ball and limiting
turnovers. Another thing is that we need to win the re
bounding war. We need to out-rebound our opponents,”
she said.
Riles gathered nine rebounds and scored 11 points in
the game, adding to her already impressive total. Well
on her way to scoring 1,000 rebounds and points. Riles
could be the first woman in Division 1 women’s basket
ball to achieve this feat, Kirkpatrick said.
“It’s a great accomplishment and I don’t think words
can explain it. 1 didn’t come in with a goal of getting
1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, it just happened,”
Riles said. “My team encourages me and reminds me
each day of this accomplishment, and they’re definitely
an inspiration to me making this happen, so I do share
this honor with them.”
Nail-biter describes the atmosphere of the game
against Coastal Carolina. The game stayed close with
both teams tied at 46 until the last 20 seconds of the
game. Two late free throws from Coastal Carolina
pushed the Chanticleers to victory.
see WINLESS on page 10