Jan. 7, 2002

Final Stats

Statesboro, Ga. - Western Carolina staved off a Georgia Southern comeback in the final minutes of the game to defeat the Lady Eagles 59-56 in Southern Conference women's basketball action Monday night at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Catamounts (9-4, 2-3) led 54-46 with 4:48 remaining in the game only to have Georgia Southern (6-7, 3-2) put together a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to take its first lead, 55-54, since being up 5-4 in the first half.

However, Tiffany Hamm grabbed a rebound on a Janetta Heggins miss and banked in a shot as she was falling down to put WCU back in front, 56-55, with just 14 seconds remaining. Two free throws by Hamm with three ticks remaining sealed the victory for the Cats.

Georgia Southern had trouble finding its shot in the first half as the Lady Eagles connected on just 8-of-38 field goals, a 21.1% field goal percentage, in the first 20 minutes of action. However, the GSU defense, which forced Western Carolina into 28 turnovers and recorded 16 steals, kept the game close for much of the final 20 minutes.

Trailing 19-15 with 7:43 to go in the first half, Georgia Southern managed just two free throws over the next five minutes of play to fall behind 28-17. The Lady Eagles missed 13 straight shots during the Western Carolina run.

Laura Echols led Western Carolina with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Hamm also finished with a double-double, recording 14 points and 12 boards. Sophomore Yoneko Allen contributed 12 points and six rebounds in the winning effort.

Georgia Southern was led by sophomore Jessica Everett, who scored a career-high 15 points. Danna Simpson added 11 points for the Lady Eagles while Alie Rousseau finished with seven.

Western Carolina returns home to host East Tennessee State at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 7). The WCU men will follow with a 7 pm meeting with The Citadel.