Nov. 26, 2005

Final Stats

Tallahassee, Fla. - With four minutes remaining in the second half, Western Carolina sophomore Chevon Keith drained a jumper in the lane helping the Lady Catamounts to regain the advantage, 59-58, over the home-standing Seminoles. However, a three and a half minute drought from the floor by Western allowed Florida State to escape the first round of the Seminole Classic with a 75-67 win Saturday afternoon in the Tucker Center.

Florida State, who entered the game shooting a paltry 57-percent from the free throw line, was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line inside the final minute to ice the win from the charity stripe and hand Western its third-consecutive loss to open the season. The `Noles connected on 24-of-33 free throws for 72.7-percent for the game.

"We played hard and I'm proud of the team for that. But we just didn't take advantage of our opportunities to win a big game here on the road," said head coach Kellie Harper. "Today was our best game of the season so far and we are going to get better."

Freshman guard Lauren Powell led the Lady Cats for the second-straight game, scoring 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench. Her back court classmate, Teshymia Tillman, added a career-high 11 points, three assists, and a trio of steals in her first collegiate action. Also scoring in double-figures for Western was sophomore Jessika Johnson with 10, adding six rebounds.

Keith, junior Erin May, and freshman April Parker each scored eight in the loss and combined for 18 rebounds, including a team-high nine by Keith, six of which were on the offensive end.

After leading at break, 31-26, Western (0-3) endured a 15-2 run by FSU to open the second half, erasing the five-point advantage and digging an eight-point hole for the Lady Catamounts. But WCU countered with a 13-6 swing cut the score to one, 47-46, with nine to play in regulation. The two teams traded buckets over the next six minutes before Western took its final lead, 59-58, at 4:13 and setting up the drought and free throw marathon at the finish.

The first half saw the scoreboard knotted a total of seven times, with Western outscoring the `Noles 14-10 in the paint. The halftime five-point WCU lead was the largest by either squad during the first 20 minutes. In the second stanza, Florida State pounded the ball inside, out scoring the Lady Catamounts 22-16 in the paint. Conversely, Western turned 10 Seminole turnovers into a dozen second half points.

Florida State (3-1) was led by 13 points from post Britany Miller, who secured the game's lone double-double by adding 14 rebounds. Guards Shante Williams and Holly Johnson combined for 28 points, scoring 15 and 13, respectively, in the win.

Western returns to action on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm in the consolation game of the 2005 Seminole Classic in Tallahassee. The Lady Catamounts will face Wright State, who fell 57-47 to Montana in the second game on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders, 1-2 this season, fell in the Horizon League Championship game a year ago.

The Catamount Sports Network will carry the game live with Brandon Stephens and Steven Crumpler on the call. Air time Sunday afternoon is 12:45 pm and can be heard locally in Cullowhee on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 and on 1350 AM WZNN. Fans can also access live audio on www.WWCUFM.com and www.supertalk1350.com.