March 6, 2003

Final Stats

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Ashley Hallsted nailed a 3-pointer with 18 seconds to play to propel the seventh-seeded Davidson Wildcats to a shocking 62-58 victory Thursday night over second-seeded Western Carolina in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship played at McAlister Field House on the campus of The Citadel. Davidson (15-14) advanced to Friday's semifinals and will face the survivor of Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State, which tipped off later Thursday night. The semifinal will tipoff at approximately 2:15 p.m. at North Charleston Coliseum and is scheduled to be broadcast by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast.

Davidson's Meghan Bryant recorded her first double-double with a season-high 17 points on the strength of 8-for-10 shooting from the floor and a season-best 11 rebounds. Hallsted added 10 points, five boards and three steals to the Wildcats' cause. Bethany Schott scored nine points to go with six rebounds, while Courtney Laird and Roby Flewelling both scored eight points.

Western Carolina had led the entire second half and was up 58-53 after Yoneko Allen's 3-pointer with 2:59 to play. Hallsted responded with a jumper at the 2:41 mark and neither team could score for almost two minutes. Bryant hit a layup on Laird's assist with 53 seconds to play to pull Davidson within 58-57.

The Catamounts had a chance to extend the lead but misfired on a pair of free throws with 31 seconds left. On the Wildcats' subsequent possession, Hallsted was wide open on the right side and swished her second triple of the night. Western Carolina committed a turnover on its next possession and was forced to foul. Davidson's Robyn Flewelling hit both free throws with four ticks remaining for the final margin.

The win marked the first time a seventh-seeded team has ever advanced to the women's semifinals. It will be Davidson's first trip to the semifinals since 1999.

Western Carolina (21-7) was paced by Allen's 15 points, while Jennifer Gardner had her seventh double-double with 11 points and 10 boards and Janetta Heggins scored 10 points. Tiffany Hamm had eight points and nine rebounds. WCU, which lost for the first time this season after leading at halftime, was held to just 36.8 percent shooting and Davidson won the rebound battle 42-37. The Catamounts were just 11-for-21 on free throws.

Davidson Head Coach Annette Watts:
"I don't think I've ever coached a team with this much intestinal fortitude. At no time did we give up and that's why we're still here."

Western Carolina Head Coach Beth Dunkenberger
"We played at least 20 games like this all year and, unfortunatley, we're on the losing end of it tonight. We gave it all we had. We just didn't make our free throws and that hurt. It also hurts because we've had such a successful year."

Western Carolina junior guard Yoneko Allen
"We stuck to the game plan. We were so fired up and had a hard time calming down."

Western Carolina sophomore forward Jennifer Gardner
"Davidson played a physical game. It may have been a case of the jitters that contributed to our loss."