Feb. 21, 2004
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina junior Jennifer Gardner, celebrating her 21st birthday today, scored the last five points for the Catamounts to give Western the 66-58 victory over Furman Saturday in the Ramsey Center. The Lady Cats held a 43-33 advantage on the boards as WCU improves to 10-15 overall and 9-9 in the Southern Conference. The second place Paladins fall to 16-9 overall and 13-5 in the league.
The Catamounts, eager to avenge an earlier season loss at Furman, came out strong in the opening 20 minutes to take a 40-25 lead into the locker room. Gardner and Tiffany Hamm led Western's offensive threat with 10 and 13 points, respectively, as WCU shot 51.7 percent in the first half on 15-of-29 from the floor. The Lady Paladins shot just 32.1 percent from the field and were led by Katie Roach and Lauren Few with six points apiece. Western's largest lead of the game came at 6:58 as Sigita Maleraite hit a trey to send the Cats ahead by 21 (34-13).
Furman had other plans for the Catamounts in the second period as the Paladins opened up with an 8-2 run in the first four minutes before both teams went on a three minute scoring drought. WCU's margin hovered around 10 points until Furman took control, shrinking Western's lead to just four on a layup by Deshara Shealey to make the score 53-49 with 6:08 on the clock.
The Paladins got to within two points just three minutes later as Roach sank consecutive free throws. Gardner scored on a layup to go back up by four, but Furman capitalized on two offensive rebounds on the other end and Orion Wake hit the 2-pointer to close in once again. However, the Catamounts ended the game on an 8-2 run, just as Furman had started the half, to secure the team's 10th win of the season.
Gardner led the Cats with a game-high 23 points, adding eight boards. Hamm recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season, best in the conference. Christy Blackwell dished out a game-high four assists and added four steals, two points and three rebounds. Erin May tied a career-high two blocks in the game while the freshman also had four points, five rebounds and two steals.
The Paladins were led by Roach with 14 points, while Few and Kim Lawrence added 10 points each. Lawrence had a game-high five thefts and Wake led Furman with eight boards. The Paladins were held to 35.6 percent shooting and hit just one of four from beyond the arc. FU committed 16 turnovers while forcing 21 Catamounts turnovers.
Western Carolina heads to Spartanburg, S.C., Monday for the team's final road game of the season. The Catamounts face Wofford in a 5:00 pm tip-off. Furman finishes out its season at home with games against Davidson at 7:00 pm on Thursday (Feb. 26) and Elon at 3:00 pm on Saturday (Feb. 28). Also on Saturday, WCU features a doubleheader at the RAC. Both the men's and women's teams will host Appalachian State for the department's annual Beach Night. The women will square off at 4:00 pm with the men following at 7:00. Prior to each game, WCU will recognize its senior class.
