Feb. 14, 2004
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina gained the early momentum in the game, taking a 16-4 lead in the first five minutes, and never looked back as the Catamounts defeated UNC Greensboro 66-44 Saturday afternoon in a Valentine's Day showdown. Avenging a loss to the Spartans earlier in the season, WCU now improves to 9-14 overall and gets back to .500 in the Southern Conference at 8-8. UNCG drops to 8-15, 8-8.
Senior Tiffany Hamm led the field in the first half with 11 points. She additionally had three rebounds in the opening period, which moved her into eighth place on WCU's career rebounding list, now with 675 after the game, passing Serena Surratt (1981-84). Junior Jennifer Gardner also had double figures heading in the locker room with 10 points and led the field with five boards.
The Catamount defense turned up the heat early on, forcing the Spartans to miss shots and turn the ball over nine times in the first half as UNCG shot 25.9 percent before the break. Jasmine Byrd sank two free throws with 17 seconds on the clock to make the score 34-19 in favor of the Cats in the first 20 minutes.
A foul by Hamm 30 seconds into the second stanza sent Caroline Blair to the line, who hit both freebies. However, Hamm hit a jumper on the next trip down the court to put the Catamounts back up by 15. Western's lead was stretched to 24 on two occasions, first on a 2-pointer by Gardner at 12:43, then with 5:05 left in the game on a made free throw by senior Yoneko Allen. Twenty points was as close as the Spartans would get to Western on a layup by Carol Lowe, but a layin by freshman Erin May on the other end sealed the 22-point win for the Cats with the final score being 66-44.
Gardner led all scorers with 17 points, raising her season average to an even 12 points per contest. She added eight rebounds, as did Hamm, to lead the field. Neither Hamm nor Gardner had any turnovers in the win. Junior Lori Tanner also recorded double figures for the Catamounts with 10 points, while senior Christy Blackwell led the game with seven assists, bringing her average up to 3.9 assists per game, which leads the team.
No UNCG player was able to put up double figures, although three players posted six points apiece, including Byrd, Shanika Jackson and Ashley Current. Point guard Amanda Eaton led the Spartans with six boards.
Greensboro was held to just 28.1 percent shooting from the floor and went 0-for-10 from the 3-point line. The Cats shot 45.5 percent from the field, but nearly a season-low 44.8 percent from the charity stripe. Western Carolina outrebounded the Spartans, 44-38, and dished out 18 team assists to UNCG's nine. WCU also won the war of turnovers, coughing the ball up just 14 times, while Greensboro had 18.
The Catamounts continue their home stand with a special Noon game against Elon on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in celebration of Education Day at the RAC. UNCG heads to Davidson, also on Tuesday, for a 7:00 pm tip-off.
