Jan. 22, 2002

Final Stats

Greensboro, N.C. - Forward Jacinda Lambert scored 16 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to help UNC Greensboro defeat Western Carolina, 74-70, Tuesday night in Southern Conference women?s basketball action at Fleming Gym.

After Western cut a 12-point second half deficit to two with 3:21 remaining in the game, Lambert scored UNCG?s next seven points, including two free throws with 23 seconds left to give the Spartans a four-point advantage, 72-68.

The Spartans remain alone in first place in the SoCon with the win at 7-1, and move to 12-5 overall with their fifth straight win. Western Carolina falls to 11-6, and 4-5 in the conference.

After trailing by as much as eight in the first half, UNCG closed the half and began the second on a 17-2 run, turning a 34-26 deficit into a 43-36 advantage at the 17:21 mark. Dodgen and Lambert scored the first eight points of the second half, and helped the Spartans out to a 12-point advantage on a Lambert jumper at the 10:13 mark.

UNCG led 61-49 with just under eight minutes left when Western made its run. Laura Echols, the nation?s 13th leading scorer who had been held to just four points, hit a jumper to start a 10-0 Catamount run and bring WCU within two at 61-59.

The teams traded baskets the next three trips down the floor, before Western?s Tiffany Hamm hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the lead to 67-66 with 2:51 remaining. Lambert answered back with a jumper and a free throw for a 70-66 lead, and UNCG made four-of-six free throws in the last 24 seconds to preserve the win.

Western took a quick 10-2 lead in the first half, and led 32-24 on the strength of five first half 3-pointers from Yoneko Allen. However, the Spartans closed the half on a 9-2 run in the last 3:01 to trail by just one, 36-35, entering the halftime break.

Echols finished with 16 points, while Allen scored 17, but just two in the second half to lead the Lady Cats. Hamm also finished in double figures with 14 off the bench. Western shot 51.1% for the game from the floor (24-of-47), the first SoCon school to shoot over 50% against UNCG this season.

Lambert led all scores with 18 points, while Dodgen added 16. Lambert also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Nicole Murray came off the bench to post 12 points. Lambert and Samika Foster both dished out five assists. For the game, UNCG shot 45.3%, but struggled from the line at 62.5%. The Spartans held a 38-30 rebounding advantage, and forced 14 turnovers while committing only nine. They also finished with a season-high 22 assists.

Western Carolina will return to Cullowhee to face Furman on Saturday (Jan. 26). The Cats will look to avenge a loss to the Paladins in Western's SoCon opener (Dec. 6). Game Time at the RAC is set for 2:00 pm.