Jan. 3, 2004
Final Stats
Charleston, S.C. - Tiffany Hamm scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as Western Carolina downed the College of Charleston 73-68 in Southern Conference women's basketball action at Kresse Arena. Yoneko Allen and Lori Tanner added 15 points for the Catamounts who improve to 4-7 overall and 3-1 in the SoCon.
Patrice Bryant led the way for the Cougars, who fell to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the SoCon, with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Carrie Geden posted a career-high 13 points and eight rebounds for Charleston.
The Cougars went up 12-6 early in the contest and kept it going as they increased their lead to 24-14 with 5:29 left in the first half. That was the last time Charleston scored in the half as the Catamounts went on an 8-0 run to go into halftime with the Cougars only leading 23-22.
Charleston shot 32.4 percent from the field and held the Catamounts to 27.3. The Cougars held the 23-18 advantage in rebounds with both teams tied in turnovers 10-10 in the opening half.
The Cougars continued to lead the game in the opening minutes of the second half and led 34-28 with 15:53 to play when Eliza Kucharska converted the layup. The Catamounts stormed back and took the lead at 35-34 following two free throws by Lori Tanner. Western Carolina used a 9-0 run capped off by Tanner's lay up to take a 37-34 lead.
The Catamounts would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way and built their largest lead of the game with 1:55 to play at 63-50 on Allen's free throw. Marketta Talley knocked down a half court three pointer as the final buzzer sounded to end the game on a positive note for the Cougars.
Western Carolina outshot Charleston 65.2 percent to 41.2 in the second half and 46.7 percent to 36.8 percent for the game. The Catamounts out rebounded the Cougars 38-36. Western Carolina was 28-34 from the foul line compared to 10-15 for the Cougars.
The Catamounts travel to Greenville, S.C. next to face Furman Wednesday, Jan. 7th at 7:00 pm. Western Carolina's next home game is Saturday, the 10th, when the Cats host Chattanooga at 4:00 pm in the first game of "Pack the RAC" night. The men's team will host Elon at 7:00. Admission to both games is free.
