Jan. 10, 2004

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Chattanooga outrebounded Western Carolina 52-32 as the Catamounts fell at the hands of the Mocs, 76-53 in Southern Conference action Saturday afternoon. Western is now 4-9 on the season and 3-3 in the SoCon, while UTC improves their league record to a perfect 8-0 with a 13-2 mark overall.

The Catamounts were never able to gain the lead from the Lady Mocs, although they shrunk UTC's lead to five points on two occasions in the first half. Senior Christy Blackwell drove in for a layup to make the score 16-21 at the 8:26 mark. Two minutes later it was senior Yoneko Allen who pulled up for a three to close in on Chattanooga, 19-24. However, the Mocs went ahead by as many as 10 points in the opening period, including UTC's final trip down the court before the buzzer when Miranda Warfield sank a jumper to give the Mocs a 36-26 advantage at the half. Chattanooga shot 47.1 percent from the field in the first stanza and carried a 24-11 advantage on the boards into the locker room. Western shot an even 40 percent in the half.

Chattanooga started the second half with a 5-0 run, capped off by a 3-pointer from Katie Galloway, who led scorers with 18 points. Not much was going the Catamounts' way as UTC started pulling away even further. After a layup by junior Lori Tanner marked the score at 30-43 with 15:08 on the clock, the Mocs went on a 17-5 run. Allen hit her third trey of the night to try and help the Cats get back in the game, but Chattanooga had too many players who were able to score offensively and the game got away from Western, who trailed by as many as 27 after a jumper by Shamya Sermons with 4:07 left in the game. Warfield netted the basket that sealed the 23-point victory fro the Lady Mocs with 22 seconds to go.

Blackwell was the only Catamount to score in double figures with 10 points, adding three assists and two steals. Tanner led the team with a season-high seven rebounds, chipping in seven points and one block as well. Allen tallied nine points, all coming from beyond the arc. Western shot just 31.7 percent in the game. The Cats, who lead the league in free throw shooting, shot just 63.6 percent from the line.

In addition to Galloway's 18 points, the guard led the field with five assists. Katasha Brown recorded 13 points for the Mocs, adding five boards and an assist. Tiffany Patton and Sermons each had 10 rebounds to lead the game. UTC shot 44.6 percent from the floor, but were held to just 23.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line. Both teams turned the ball over times, which actually tied a season-low for the Catamounts.

Western Carolina returns to action Monday, Jan. 12, as they host East Tennessee State at 7 pm in the RAC. UTC travels to Davidson Monday to face the Wildcats in a 7 pm tip-off as well.