Nov. 21, 2000

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, NC -- The Western Carolina Lady Catamounts led the majority of the game, but were out scored 17-10 in the overtime period, falling short to the Furman Lady Paladins 79-72 Tuesday night in the Ramsey Center in both team's Southern Conference opener.

WCU battled throughout the overtime period. However, the foul shooting of Furman's Mary Brock kept the Cats at bay, and securing the win for the defending Southern Conference tournament champion Lady Paladins. She made eight of 11 free throws down the stretch for Furman.

"We did some good things tonight," said women's head coach Beth Dunkenberger. "We played hard enough to win, had some good shots, and played good defense."

The Lady Cats were led by freshman Tiffany Hamm with 23 points and eight rebounds. Junior Laura Echols added 17 points and four boards, with senior April Fleck tallying 11 points and seven rebounds.

"Tiffany Hamm and Laura Echols did a good job inside and Christy Blackwell did a good job running the offense," said Dunkenberger.

Blackwell finished with seven points, three rebounds, and a pair of assists.

WCU led by as many as eight on two occasions in the first half, and extended that lead to ten in the second stanza. However, Furman, led by Brock with 23 and senior Tara Charles with 19, made a charge and took the lead for the first time with 4:02 remaining in the contest.

After that, it was a back and forth battle, with Furman holding a one-point lead with seconds remaining. For Western Carolina, Echols made one of two free throws to tie the game and send it into overtime.

The Lady Cats fall to 1-1 on the young season, while the Lady Paladins start off their 2000-2001 campaign 1-0. Western Carolina will travel to Coastal Carolina on Saturday, November 25 before returning home to the RAC for a Monday night doubleheader, taking on Campbell University.