ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — A pivotal late-season Big South Conference matchup awaits Wednesday when the Winthrop Eagles host the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in women’s basketball at Winthrop Coliseum. Both teams enter the 7 p.m. contest looking to build momentum for the conference tournament. Winthrop (13-15, 8-7 Big South) sits just above UNC Asheville (11-17, 7-8) in the league standings. The Eagles won the first meeting this season, 59-55, in Asheville on Jan. 3. The Bulldogs are coming off one of their best performances of the season, a 76-58 home victory over Presbyterian on Saturday. Guard Jamaria Freeman led the way with 17 points, six assists and two blocks. Freeman has been a consistent force, averaging 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists over her last six games. Her backcourt play will be critical against Winthrop’s pressure. Winthrop counters with its own standout guard in Amourie Porter, who is averaging 17.4 points per game in conference play. Porter is coming off a 22-point effort in a road win at Presbyterian last Wednesday and a dominant 27-point, 12-rebound double-double in a victory over Longwood on Feb. 14. Her scoring surges have often keyed the Eagles’ wins. Recent form favors the home team. Winthrop has won two of its last three, while Asheville has split its last four, with victories over Presbyterian and USC Upstate but a damaging home loss to Radford by 28 points on Feb. 11. The game features a contrast in strengths. UNC Asheville will rely on Freeman’s playmaking and a defense that held its last opponent to 58 points. Winthrop will look to Porter and its offense, which has scored 72 or more points in three of its last five outings. With the regular season winding down, securing a winning conference record and improving seeding for the Big South tournament is the immediate goal for both squads. Wednesday’s result could provide a significant boost toward that end.