Box Score Feb. 21, 2005
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Junior Teyawna Hardy tied her career-high and seniors Sigita Maleraite and Jennifer Gardner each chipped in double figures scoring as Western Carolina survived a second half rally by the Wofford Terriers, winning 79-71 Monday night in the Ramsey Center.
Winners of five-straight, Western Carolina (14-12, 10-9 SoCon) honored its five seniors during a pre-game ceremony. But it was an underclassman that led the way as Hardy scored 19 points to lead the Lady Catamounts above the .500 mark in conference play. Maleraite and Gardner each added 16 points in the win, with Gardner tallying her 32nd career double-double adding 10 rebounds in the win.
Gardner also became Western Carolina's all-time leader in made free throws on Monday. Needing three to move into first, the Norcross, Ga., native connected on 6-of-9, netting the go-ahead charity toss at the 2:53 mark of the second half.
Senior forward Lori Tanner made strides towards getting back on track, having her best scoring output in five games as she finished with eight points, six of which came from a perfect night from the free throw line. Tanner added six rebounds in her final home game as a Lady Catamount. Also making their final appearances in the Ramsey Center were guard Ki-Ki Glass, who scored four and dished out a season-high six assists, and guard Shaketia Barnes.
After having only trailed a total of 23 seconds in the past two games, it took the Lady Catamounts nearly 10 minutes to gain its first lead over Wofford. The Terriers held as much as a five-point advantage until WCU final tied the game at 12 midway through the first half. Western took its first lead after Hardy converted a Terrier turnover into one of her three long-range bombs. The Cats would grow the advantage to as many as six on another Hardy 3-pointer, but Wofford rallied back with a 9-0 spurt to reclaim the advantage, 25-22.
Down three, Western seized control, holding the Terriers scoreless for the final six minutes while embarking on a 19-0 run to lead by 16 at the break, 41-25. During the scoreless drought, Western's defense force eight Wofford missed shots and created seven turnovers.
Wofford opened the second half with a 12-3 run, which began with a 6-0 spurt, to cut the deficit to seven, 44-37, just under four minutes into the second stanza. WCU recovered by stretching the lead back 12, 51-39, but the Terriers kept nipping away, rallying to take a one-point lead with 6:10 to play on a 3-pointer by Stephanie Ripberger. The trifecta capped a 15-5 Terrier run that lasted three and a half minutes.
Trailing by one, the two teams traded buckets with a pair of ties before Western recorded seven consecutive points to go ahead for good, 73-66. Within the final minute of play, the Lady Catamounts connected on 6-of-7 free throws, boarding the only miss to retain possession and secure the victory. WCU won the battle of the boards, 54-29, nearly doing the deed on the offensive glass alone where the Cats held a commanding 26-to-6 advantage.
Wofford (4-22, 2-17 SoCon) had five players reach double figures in the loss, led by the 17 points of senior Ricaye Harris. Junior Nakia Mister added 16, followed by a dozen by both senior Stephanie Ripberger and sophomore Mary Jo Yee, who was a last minute addition to the Terriers' starting lineup. Senior Brie Bradshaw rounded out Wofford's leading scorers with 10.
Western Carolina will conclude its regular season this Thursday, February 24 as it travels to face archrival Appalachian State. Tip-off from Boone is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Wofford travels to UNC Greensboro on Saturday, February 26 to face the Spartans with a 3:00 pm tip.
