Dec. 20, 2003
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. - In a seesaw battle for control of the game, Western Carolina could not overcome a final four-point deficit as Georgia Southern defeated the Catamounts, 62-58, in WCU's conference opener and final home game before the Christmas holiday. The Cats drop to 1-7 overall and 0-1 in the SoCon, while the Eagles improve to 5-2, 2-0.
Although GSU scored first on a free throw by Kellie Tiller, the Catamounts sunk the first bucket of the game at 17:31 on a jumper by junior Sigita Maleraite. However, the Eagles quickly took back the lead after a steal by Kristy McCorkle and a layup by Shawnica Hill. Georgia Southern would hold the lead until senior Yoneko Allen made a 3-pointer at 10:35 to make the score 15-13. After four ties, the Eagles claimed the 27-24 lead after a trey by Lee DuBose. It looked like GSU would hold a two-point lead heading into halftime, but junior Lori Tanner snagged an offensive rebound and tipped it back in to knot the score at 30 apiece to close the period.
The Eagles had a 20-12 rebounding average in the first half, but no GSU player scored more than six points before the break with Tiller posting six. The Cats were perfect at the line in the first period (4-4) and outshot the Eagles by a slight 44.4-43.3 margin.
Georgia Southern struck first in the second half with Hill making one of two free throws, but Western was again the first team to score a basket in the half on a jumper by junior Jennifer Gardner with an assist by Ki-Ki Glass, who dished out a season-high seven in the game. The Catamounts led for the next five minutes until Nicole Newton tied it up with a jumper to make the score 40-40.
After a layup by senior Tiffany Hamm, Chequilla Jessie scored a basket on the other end and drew the foul, converting a three-point play to put the Eagles up for good. Hamm brought Georgia Southern's lead to just two with 2:07 left in the game, but a layup by Adrienne Early sent GSU ahead by four with 29 ticks on the clock. Early got called for the foul on the other end and Gardner sunk one of her two free throws to bring the score to 61-58. However, after a missed 3-pointer by Allen and a rebound by McCorkle, the Cats were forced to foul. McCorkle hit one of her two freebies for the final score of 62-58.
The Catamounts outshot the Eagles in the game (40.0-38.7), but were outrebounded, 43-37. WCU is now 1-4 when beat on the boards. Western did post a season-high 16 assists as they moved the ball around the court well, but committed 16 turnovers as well, while GSU had 15. The Cats did well at the line, hitting 8-of-10, but only sank 2-of-14 from 3-point range.
WCU was led by Hamm, who recorded a game-high 22 points and 11 boards for her second double-double of the season. Gardner also scored in double figures for the Cats with 11 points, adding six rebounds. Freshman Erin May posted four points, three rebounds and one assist in her first start of the season.
Georgia Southern was led by Hill with 11 points, while Early posted 10 points and a team-high nine boards. McCorkle had five of the team's eight assists as well as a team-high four steals.
The Catamounts go on the road to face Davidson in the team's final game before Christmas. Game time is set for 7:00 pm on Monday, Dec. 22. Western's next home game is Tuesday, Dec. 30, when the Cats will host Wofford at 7:00 pm in the RAC.
