Box Score Dec. 9, 2005
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Trailing by a game-high 14 points with just less than eight minutes to play in the second half, Western Carolina mounted a 16-4 run over a six and a half minute stretch to close to within two, 71-69. But the Lady Catamounts could never tie nor pull ahead over the final minute and a half, falling in a heart breaker, 76-74, to the Radford Highlanders Friday night in the Ramsey Center.
Inside of a minute to play, Western again pulled to within two points, 73-71, on a pair of Chevon Keith free throws. The Highlanders answered as RU guard Shavon Earp drove the lane, draining a runner and drawing contact and a foul. Her free throw gave the Highlanders a five-point lead with 25 seconds showing on the clock. Western countered with an offensive possession that saw sophomore Jessika Johnson fouled in the act of shooting. Johnson made one of two charity tosses, but freshman April Parker kept things alive for Western with an offensive board - one of the Lady Cats game-high 21 - and her stick back closed the deficit back to two.
Following a WCU timeout, Earp turned the ball over on the inbounds play, breathing new life in the Lady Catamounts. However, WCU could not connect on two looks at the basket and time expired handing Western its seventh-consecutive defeat.
Keith led Western's attack with the team's first double-double of the season, scoring a career-high 16 points and boarding a career-best 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Freshman Lauren Powell returned to double-figures for the first time since the loss to Wright State, scoring 10 on 4-of-10 shooting. Johnson and Parker each added nine in the loss, with the latter finishing with a career-best seven rebounds.
After falling behind four in the opening moments of the game, Western rallied to take a four-point lead, 12-7, with 14:21 remaining before halftime. The Highlanders then used a 9-0 spurt to regain the lead for good, and built its advantage to a first half high of 10 points with 30 seconds remaining before intermission. Keith drained a 3-pointer as the half expired for the seven-point deficit, 38-31.
Radford ballooned its lead to a dozen in early minutes of the second half before Western mounted its comeback, outscoring the Highlanders 43-38 in the second stanza.
Western out rebounded the Highlanders 46-to-41, holding a 21-to-16 advantage on the offensive boards. The Lady Catamounts improved from the free throw line, canning 12-of-13 attempts in the second half to shoot a season-best 80-percent from the charity stripe. Radford made 10, 3-pointers, shooting 46-percent from long range in the win.
Radford (3-3) put three players in double figures, led by 18 points and a team-high eight rebounds from junior Sarah Stephens. Her classmate, Earp, and freshman Johnette Walker each added 15 in the win, RU's second-straight over Western Carolina.
Western will now enter a 10-day break for final exams. The Lady Catamounts return to action on Monday, December 19 at 7:00 pm as it completes its three-game swing against Big South opponents visiting the High Point Panthers at 7:00 pm.
