Dec. 1, 2001

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's basketball team turned a 13-point halftime lead into a 21-point advantage five minutes into the second half en route to an 80-53 victory over UNC Asheville Saturday afternoon at the Ramsey Activity Center. The game was the first of a men's and women's doubleheader as part of the second annual Asheville Citizen-Times Mountain Hoops Classic.

Four Catamounts reached double figures in leading Western to a 5-1 start this season, its best since opening the 1980-81 season with an 8-1 record. Sophomore Yoneko Allen paced WCU with 16 points, hitting all four of her 3-point attempts. Laura Echols scored 13 and grabbed eight rebounds, while Tiffany Hamm and Janetta Heggins contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively. With Echols being in foul trouble early, freshman Miranda Long logged a season-high 21 minutes and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. The Cherokee, N.C., native added seven points.

Jessica Guarneri led the Bulldogs (0-5) with 15 points and six rebounds, followed by Ashley Sharpton with 11 points off the bench.

Western led by no more than five points in through the first 14 minutes of the game until Allen drained a 3-pointer at the 5:39 mark. Back-to-back turnovers by UNCA gave the Catamounts two layups and a 12-point lead at the 4:16 mark. The Bulldogs were able to cut the lead back to seven before Western closed the half on a 8-4 run to take a 37-24 lead at halftime.

The Catamounts led by as many as 34 points in the second half (76-42 at the 4:55 mark). Western shot an impressive 47.2 percent in the second half (17-of-36), while holding UNC Asheville to just 29.6 percent shooting (8-of-27) from the field. WCU also forced 23 turnovers and out-rebounded the Bulldogs 49-36.

Western will end its current three-game homestand on Tuesday (Dec. 4) when it hosts Gardner-Webb. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m., in the RAC.