December 31, 2011
Lady Braves Close Out 2011 At Georgia College's Stair South Classic
PEMBROKE – After resting from action for 10 days, the UNCP women's basketball team will return to the court in Milledgeville, Ga., to face Limestone on Friday at 5 p.m. and Tusculum on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Georgia College-hosted Stair South Classic.
The Lady Braves (4-5) collected a 1-2 record in the week prior to the holiday break with a loss at home to Chowan, 54-49, on December 14 before going on the road and taking a victory over Peach Belt Conference opponent Flagler, 67-58, on December 17. UNCP then fell to Armstrong Atlantic, 54-52, two days later. Junior Courtney Bolton averaged 14.7 points and 9.7 rebounds during the week's games and led the Lady Braves with game-highs in all three matchups.
Bolton leads UNCP in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game, while shooting 53.8 and 67.3 percent from the field and foul line, respectively, and spearheads the defense with an average 6.6 rebounds. Senior Domonique Washington averages 10.7 points per game and 7.0 rebounds, while leading the squad with 4.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game. The Black and Gold tally both a higher scoring margin (+2.1) and rebounding average (+0.6) than opponents.
Limestone (5-4) enters into the matchup with a three-game losing streak with its most recent loss to Newberry on December 17. The Saints fell by three points at home in the Timken Center despite rallying from an 18-point deficit. Maria Young leads the team in scoring with 19.0 points per game, while Stephanie Hayes averages 16.1 points per game. Leading the defense with 8.3 rebounds per game is Kaileigh West despite the team being outrebounded (-4.4) by opponents.
UNCP and Limestone will meet for the first time on Friday in the series between the two schools.
Tusculum (5-3) also enters the tournament with a three-game losing streak after its 5-0 start including its most recent loss to Johnson C. Smith, 61-55, on December 16. Staci Hicks shot 8-for-11 from the field and led the Pioneers with 17 points and eight rebounds, and Kendal Baxter added 14 points. Hicks and Baxter average 14.8 and 13.3 points, respectively, while Linda Aughburns averages 11.0 rebounds per game. The Pioneers total a higher scoring margin (+3.6) and a higher rebounding average (+10.4) but suffer in turnovers (-4.6).
UNCP and Tusculum will meet for the fourth time on Saturday in a series that has been solely controlled by the Lady Braves. The Black and Gold holds an undefeated 3-0 series advantage going into Saturday's matchup. The squads last played each other in the 2005-06 season when UNCP captured a 60-48 victory on November 26 in the English E. Jones Center.
