Lady Bucs Fall 70-66 in Another Close Battle

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern made a late run with key points from Kelsey Wasmer and Pam Tolbert, Monday evening, but their efforts to earn their first Big South victory of the season fell short as they dropped a 70-66 decision to UNC Asheville.

The Lady Bucs fell to 5-8 on the year and 0-2 in the Big South, dropping their third-straight game by 10 points or less. The Bulldogs improved their mark to 4-10 and evened their Conference mark to 1-1.

Tolbert, the Big South’s scoring leader, paced the offense with 27 points, while Wasmer dumped in 15 points, including a pair of three-point plays late in the game.

UNCA had their third-highest offensive output of the year with 70 points, thanks in large part to hitting eight of 20 three-point attempts, almost twice their season average. Lindsey Thompson led the Bulldogs with 18 points and five 3s, including two late in the first half to give UNCA an 8-0 run and a six-point advantage at the break.

The second half did not start as well as CSU Head Coach Julie Goodenough wanted as UNCA extended their run to 15-2 to start the second period, taking their largest lead of the game at 40-29 less than three minutes into the half.

CSU continued to crawl back into the game, getting to within two at 58-56 after three-straight layups by Tolbert as the tried to will her team to victory. Ana Baker had an answer for UNCA as she hit three-straight layups of her own as part of a 10-point night.

After the Bulldogs extended the lead back to 11 using a final run with :56 left in the game, Wasmer set up and drained her second three of the game to cut it to eight. A steal by Kiki Rutledge set up Wasmer from beyond the arc again, and though she couldn’t connect on the shot, she drew the foul and hit all three free throws to make it a five-point game at 69-64.

With four fouls each, Tolbert and Wasmer were unable to foul at the end of the game and after a layup by Lydia Johnson made it 70-66, CSU was unable to catch Baker as she dribbled out the final :15 to seal the UNCA victory.

The Lady Bucs will remain home for the final game of a six-game home stand as they face Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 10 for a 5:30 tip off.