Jan. 25, 2003

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Junior Tiffany Hamm led the Lady Catamounts with a game-high 22 points and season-high 15 rebounds for her third double-double of the season to give Western Carolina the 82-74 victory over UNC Greensboro Saturday in the Ramsey Center. With the win, the Cats improve to 13-4 overall, their best overall start since 1980-81, and 6-2 in the SoCon, their best league start ever. The Spartans drop to 8-8, 4-4 with the loss.

The Catamounts and Spartans kept the game close in the first half. No team led by more than five points at any time. Jennifer Gardner opened up scoring to start the game on an assist by Janetta Heggins, one of five for Heggins in the game, which ties a season-high. A foul by Christy Blackwell at the halftime buzzer sent UNCG's Jacinda Lambert to the line as she made all three baskets to give the Spartans a 42-38 lead going into the locker room.

Greensboro took its biggest lead of the game as Lambert sank a jumper to start the second half for the six-point margin. However, Western answered with an 8-0 run to take the 46-44 lead at 17:23. UNCG tied it at 46-46 after a jumper by Nicole Murray, but the Catamounts quickly regained control and led by as many as 12 points after a pair of free throws by Gardner, two of a season-high 41 free throw attempts in the game for WCU. The Spartans brought the game to within three points after a jumper by Lambert made the score 66-63, but that's as close as they would get and the game ended at 82-74 after a lay-up by Gardner for her 18th point of the game.

The Catamounts shot 45.5 percent for the game and outrebounded the Spartans, 40-34. WCU also made a season-high 30 free throws for 73.2 percent. Greensboro shot 42.9 percent, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range for 54.5 percent.

Hamm's 22 points ties a season-high and her 15 rebounds ties a career-high. She also shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe and her 22 points gives her 798 for her career, just two shy of the 800 mark. Her 15 rebounds put her over the 400 mark in her career (413). Gardner was two rebounds shy of her fifth straight double-double, but she did hit 8-of-10 free throws in the game, more than any other player. Kala Greene also had a great performance in the game with 13 points, which ties a career-high, as well as five rebounds and a career-high four steals.

Lambert led the way for the Spartans with 20 points, five boards and a block, while Murray recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Lindsey Reed added 18 points and a block for UNCG.

Western Carolina travels to Greenville, S.C., on Monday, Jan. 27, for a match-up against Furman at 7:00 p.m. The Cats also host their second double header of the season next Saturday, Feb. 1, in the RAC. The women tip-off at 4:00 against Davidson and the men square off against Davidson, as well, at 7:00 p.m.