Dec. 18, 2004

Final Stats

Statesboro, Ga. - Despite four players in double figures, including a career-high from senior forward Lori Tanner, the Lady Catamounts could not complete the comeback, falling to the Georgia Southern Lady Eagles, 82-79, Saturday evening.

Western (5-5, 1-3 SoCon) was led by a Tanner and her frontcourt classmate Jennifer Gardner, each scoring 17 points. Gardner tallied a double-double, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds.

In her first start career start, freshman Monique Dawson scored 16 points, including nailing a career-best three shots from behind the 3-point arc. Her freshman counterpart, Leah Barrier, poured in 11 points, three assists, and a pair of steals off the bench in the losing effort.

Georgia Southern raced to a first half lead of 20 points on an 18-3 run over eight minutes midway through the half. The Lady Catamounts countered, however, closing the final three and half outscoring GSU 16-5, including a 10-0 spurt to trail at the break, 41-32.

Cold shooting at the outset of the second half cursed the Lady Cats as Georgia Southern held Western scoreless until just after the first media timeout at the 15:54 mark. All told, the Lady Eagles capitalized on an 11-0 run to again lead by 20, 52-32.

Western Carolina rallied in the second half, turning up the defensive pressure, which translated into easy points on the other end. The Lady Catamounts pulled to within seven at 68-61, but an offensive foul whistled on Barrier turned into two points on the other end, and a nine-point GSU advantage.

Georgia Southern, who entered the game shooting 63% from the free throw, nailed 90-percent from the charity stripe in the second half to ice the victory down the stretch.

The Lady Eagles (4-5, 1-2 SoCon) also had four players record double-figure scoring, led by the 17 point, three assist performance of Lee Fallon. Dana Benemon scored 16 points, adding a dozen rebounds, with Kellie Tiller equaling Benemon with 16.

Western Carolina returns to action on Monday, December 20 as it hosts the Davidson Wildcats in Southern Conference action at the Ramsey Center.