ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Three double figure scorers and a scorching .507 field goal percentage led back-to-back Big South Tournament champion UNC Asheville to an 82-52 win over the Longwood women's basketball team Saturday afternoon inside Kimmel Arena.

The Bulldogs (6-9, 3-1 Big South) were led by a combined 34 points from second-team Big South Preseason selection Khaila Webb and Bronaza Fitzgerald. Those two led three Bulldogs in double figures, along with 11 points from Nadiria Evans to overcome a season-high 13 points from Longwood (3-12, 1-3 Big South) freshman Mallory Odell, as well as nine points each from Que King and Ciarah Bennett.

"Asheville is a tough, gritty team that plays extremely hard," said Longwood head coach Bill Reinson. "We were none of those things today. We started the game passively and by the time we began competing, it was over. I don't believe Asheville is 30 points better than we are, but they certainly were this afternoon.  

Fitzgerald scored the first nine points of the game for the Bulldogs to account for nine of her 15 points in a near double-double performance that also saw her collect seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Webb scored 10 of her 19 points in the second half to lead a Bulldog backcourt that led the Bulldogs with 11 fast break points.

"We had been trending in a positive direction defensively but we offered little resistance today," Reinson said.

Odell came off the bench to score in double figures for the third game in her rookie campaign and the first in her Big South career. She stuffed the stat sheet while also collecting five rebounds, three steals and a block in 20 minutes on the court.

Odell was part of a freshmen trio of King and Stephanie Guihon that accounted for 28 of Longwood's 52 points. King matched her season-high with nine points while playing a season-high 19 minutes and Stephanie Guihon added six points.  

One game after moving into the top 10 in career assists, senior captain Micaela Ellis moved within six assists of moving past Keva Small for ninth-place on the career list. Ellis tallied her 10th game of the season with at least eight points, as she's averaging 8.1 points per game in her final season in a :Lancer uniform.

"Radford comes to Farmville Tuesday and they're a big, physical team that defends and rebounds extremely hard," Reinson said. We'll need to be ready for a physical battle."

Longwood will have two days to prepare for the Big South Preseason favorite Highlanders, as the two teams are set to battle Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. inside Willett Hall. That game is set to be broadcast on ESPN3 with Mike Hogewood and Kelley Deyo on the call.

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