CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian College women's basketball team defeated the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on Monday night, 53-51. Amanda Mills (Oregon City, Ore.) hit a pair of threes in the final 1:45 of the game to help the Blue Hose hold on for their sixth win of the season and third conference victory.
The Blue Hose went on a 19-10 run to start the second half and extend their lead to as many as 13 points, 40-27, with 8:48 remaining in the game. Yet the Bulldogs answered with a 12-2 run, making the score at 42-39 with 3:30 remaining.
A basket by Sherece Smith (Clemson, S.C.) with 3:13 on the clock reignited the Blue Hose offense and led to Mill's big three with 1:45 remaining. Karlee Taylor (Asheville, N.C.) and Dria David (Lawrenceville, Ga.) also combined to go three-of-six from the free throw line as the Bulldogs were forced to foul. Their points proved to be needed as Kendall Shepard hit a three as time expired.
Leading the way for the Blue Hose on the night was Mariah Pietrowski (Elizabethton, Tenn.) with 13 points and seven rebounds. Smith contributed eight points and six rebounds in a career-high 34 minutes of play. David had four steals coupled with six points and eight rebounds on the night.
Grace Blaylock went four-of-eight from three to lead the Bulldogs with 12 points. Shepard finished with 11 points, six of which came in the final 41 seconds of the game.
Despite being ranked second in the Big South from behind the arc, the Blue Hose went 0-12 in the first half. Mills hit the first trey for the home team with 16:39 remaining in the second half. Kristen Stevens (Pickerington, Ohio) also contributed a pair of threes down the stretch to leave the Blue Hose a dreary 5-26 (.192) on the night but 5-14 (.357) in the second half.
The Blue Hose responded to Blaylock's three to open the game with an 8-0 run. Two baskets by the Bulldogs would make the score 8-7 in favor of PC, but that would be the closest the visitors came during the remainder of the game. Six different Blue Hose contributed points in the first half as PC took a 21-17 lead into the locker room. Pietrowski lead all scorers with nine first half points.
PC improves their record to 6-14 overall and 3-5 in the Big South. The sixth win sets PC's Division I record for wins in a season, and the third conference win ties last year's record with eight games still remaining. UNCA falls to 10-10 and 2-6.
The Blue Hose will next play a four-game road stretch that starts at Coastal Carolina on Feb. 5, 2011. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
