Feb. 12, 2005

Final Stats

Greensboro, NC - Western Carolina senior Jennifer Gardner hauled in a rebound on a missed front-end of one-and-one by junior Teyawna Hardy, was fouled, and continued her torrid streak at the free throw line, draining a pair as the Lady Catamounts survived a late comeback attempt by the UNC Greensboro Spartans, 55-51, Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference action.

Western improved to 11-12 overall, 7-9 in the Southern Conference. The seven conference victories for first-year head coach Kellie Harper ties a school record for head coaches in their first season at the helm.

Gardner led the Lady Cats to the victory, scoring 12 points and pulling down eight rebounds, moving her into sole possession of fifth on the WCU all-time rebounding list. She also extended her current free throw streak to 20-in-a-row by connecting on all four attempts. The Norcorss, Ga., native has been successful on 44 of her last 45 attempts.

Hardy and freshman Chevon Keith each added 11 points in the win, tying Keith's career- best scoring output. Sophomore Erin May and Sigita Maleraite each boarding eight as Western won the battle on the glass 40-33.

UNCG (12-11, 9-7 SoCon) was paced by freshman Kristen Boone with 15 points, 13 of which came in the second half. She also swiped eight steals to surpass 100 for the season. Sophomore Irene Otamiri finished with seven off the bench for the Spartans, who dropped back-to-back games for the first time since mid-December.

Western fell behind 10-4 over the first five minutes of the contest, but managed a 7-0 spurt to erase the deficit and take the lead, 11-10 midway through the first half. After trading the lead back and forth, the Lady Cats took control with a 13-2 run to build its largest lead of the half at ten, 28-18, with three and a half remaining before the break.

However, the Catamounts would not score over the final three minutes, missing four shots and committing a trio of turnovers. UNCG only managed to connect on two of its final shots of the half as Western led at the break, 28-22.

Senior Lori Tanner opened the second half with her only bucket of the game to push the lead back to eight, 30-22. But the Lady Cats were held to a mere four points over the first six and a half minutes of the second as UNC Greensboro pulled to within two, 32-30. Western responded with seven-straight points to grow the lead back to nine with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

But the Spartans would not quit, keeping the lead below double figures through the crucial stretch of the second half. Their efforts culminated when senior Amanda Eaton pulled up in the lane and drained a jump shot to tie the game at 45 with just over five minutes to play. It was the closes UNCG had been since the seven-minute mark of the first half. Yet, the Lady Catamounts regained their composure and never relinquished the lead, setting up the final flurry from the free throw line.

Western Carolina continues its current three-game road trip this Monday, Feb. 14 as it visits Elon at 6:00 pm. The Lady Cats will look to avenge the early season overtime loss handed to them by the Phoenix.