Jan. 24, 2004

Final Stats

Statesboro, Ga. - Three Catamounts scored in double figures to lead Western Carolina to a 65-57 win over Georgia Southern Saturday night at Hanner Fieldhouse. The pivotal win snapped WCU's five-game losing skid to start the second round of Southern Conference games.

Georgia Southern (9-8, 5-6 Southern Conference) took the early lead, jumping out to a 12-6 advantage at the 9:27 mark. Western Carolina responded with a 12-0 run, sparked by Tiffany Hamm's jumper at 7:13 to put the Cats on top for good at 13-12. Hamm's bucket with 1:50 in the half gave the Catamounts the 28-22 advantage at the break.

Western struck first in the second period on a shot by Hamm, this time from 3-point range. The Eagles then went on a 7-0 run, as Adrienne Early scored the first five. GSU cut the Catamount lead to two at 41-39 with 9:56 remaining, but could not regain the lead. Western Carolina pulled away in the closing minutes of the game, as they connected on nine points from the charity stripe to prove the final margin, 65-57.

The Catamounts' Tiffany Hamm, Jennifer Gardner and Christy Blackwell each scored in double-digits, with Hamm leading all scorers with 22. Gardner and Blackwell added eleven each while Gardner finished with a team-high eight boards. Blackwell posted a game-high six assists and four steals, which now puts her in a tie for first place in WCU's record books for career steals with 243, needing just one more to become the program's all-time leader in the category.

Georgia Southern was led by Shawnica Hill, who had 12 points and six assists on the evening, while teammate Jessica Everett also scored in double figures, adding ten. Everett led the Eagles in rebounds with eight.

Western Carolina returns to Cullowhee to face Davidson on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.