Jan. 30, 2001

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball fell to Southern Conference opponent Furman 78-61 Tuesday night in Timmons Arena.

In the first meeting of the year between these two programs, the Catamounts took Furman to overtime before the Lady Paladins were able to pull the 79-72 victory. Tuesday night's game was owned by FU from the opening tip, however, as the Lady Paladins outshot Western 51.4% to 25.0% in the first half to take a 42-22 halftime advantage.

In the second period, the Cats outshot Furman 35% to 33%, but the Lady Paladin advantage hovered around 20 points, stretching to as many as 27 with 3:29 to go in the game.

The Cats were led by Christy Blackwell's 12 points, while Marsha McGillivary added 10. Laura Echols and April Fleck shared rebounding honors, with six each. The team shot a season high 84.2 percent from the free throw line.

The Lady Paladins were led on the night by Kim Lawrence's 15 points, while Tara Charles added 10. For just the second time this season every member of the Lady Paladin team played and scored at least two points, and all 12 team members claimed at least one of Furman's 59 rebounds. Leitra Young topped Furman at the boards, with nine, and also tallied a team-high three blocks.

With the loss, Western Carolina fell to 8-12 and 2-9, while Furman improved to 13-7 overall and 7-4 in the Southern Conference.