SPORTS

DAVIDSON, N.C.  — Davidson put three players in double figures and shook off a slow start on its way to securing a 58-50 home-opening win over UNC Asheville in women’s basketball Wednesday night inside John M. Belk Arena

Despite a tough shooting night for the Wildcats (3-2) and trailing by 10 points in the early goings, their defense forced 19 turnovers, scoring 22 points of those miscues, and held the Bulldogs to 32.7 percent shooting in moving to 8-4 in home openers the last 12 years.

The ‘Cats also took advantage at the charity stripe, swishing home 20-of-25 attempts, one off their season high in makes.

Justine Lyon and Katie Turner reached double figures in points for the fourth and second time, respectively, this year with 13 points each. Lyon also filled the box score with two assists, a career-high tying three blocks, three steals and five rebounds.

Andrea Robinson tallied 10 points, while Mackenzie Latt had eight points and seven rebounds, and Sarah Donovan chipped in a game and season-high tying nine rebounds to go with seven points. She also went a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

UNCA (0-4) was led by Khaila Webb with 12 points and Bronaza Fitzgerald added 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Wildcats erased deficits of 14-4 and 16-10 in the first quarter by outscoring the Bulldogs 17-4 in the second quarter for a 27-20 lead at the half.

The lead grew to 19 (46-27) in the third quarter on a Saadia Timpton free throw and Davidson won that quarter, 19-9.

Latt would give Davidson its biggest lead, 54-34, on a bucket inside with 7:33, but UNC Asheville started to chip away. The Bulldogs got to within eight, 54-46, with 2:34 left before a layup by Robinson and two free throws from Latt later pushed the lead back to 12 with under a minute to go.

Davidson won the battle on the boards for the third time this year with a 39-36 edge, hauling in 17 on the offensive end.

The Wildcats stay at home to take on Princeton on Saturday with a 1 p.m. start time.

 

GAME NOTES: This was the eighth meeting all-time dating back to 1984 season between both teams … Davidson leads the series 5-3 now and has won five of the last six meetings … both teams were playing each other for the first time since the 2007-08 season … Lyon has scored in double figures in 25 of her the last 28 games overall … Davidson moved to 18-19 all-time in home-openers (two of the year’s all-time results are incomplete) … prior to the game, head coach Gayle Coats Fulks was honored with a commemorative game ball for collecting her first career win in Davidson’s season-opening victory at Western Carolina, Nov. 10.