Jan. 18, 2003

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Jennifer Gardner posted a career-high 23 points, including a perfect 9-of-9 from the line and 7-of-12 from the field, to help lift the Catamounts over Georgia Southern, 60-58, in the Ramsey Center Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the Southern Conference, while GSU drops their third game in a row to stand at 10-6 overall and 4-3 in the SoCon.

The Catamounts went on a 7-0 run to open the game, but the Eagles answered and took the lead at 12:08 in the first on a 3-pointer by Kellie Tiller to give the Lady Eagles an 11-9 lead. However, Western pulled together another 7-0 run near the end of the half after a three-point play by Gardner and a pair of free throws by Yoneko Allen and Christy Blackwell. WCU took a 28-24 lead into the locker room at the half.

Western would not let Georgia Southern lead at all for the remainder of the game, although GSU kept the score close, never trailing by more than seven points. The Eagles brought the margin to within one point on five occasions. With 56 seconds left in the game, Tiffany Lanier sank a jumper to make the score 59-58 in the Cats' favor. Lanier caused the foul on the other end of the court to put Janetta Heggins on the line for WCU, but Heggins could not get the free throws to fall. After a made free throw and then a miss by Allen, Georgia Southern had the ball with nine seconds left. Coming out of its final time-out, GSU turned the ball over and the game ended with the score of 60-58.

Gardner recorded her third straight double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her 23 points. Tiffany Hamm posted 13 points and four rebounds, while Allen scored 12 points and five rebounds. With her three treys today, she now has 78 career 3-point field goals and need just eight more to move into fifth place on WCU's all-time list. Also breaking ground in the school's record book is Blackwell, who recorded three steals in the game to bring her career total to 184, good for eighth place.

Shawnica Hill led the way for Georgia Southern with 17 points, adding four rebounds and three steals. Lanier posted 11 points and five rebounds, while Mimi Lindsey led the team with eight rebounds.

The Catamounts travel to Boone next as they take on the Mountaineers on Tuesday, January 21, at 7:00 pm. GSU will host Wofford next Saturday, Jan. 25, at 7:00 pm.