Jan. 18, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Bookended by a pair of two minute scoring droughts and subsequent double-digit runs by the visiting UNC Greensboro, the Spartans made 6-of-8 free throws inside the final 30 seconds to hand Western Carolina a 69-60 setback Wednesday afternoon in Southern Conference action.

Western Carolina (2-14, 2-5 SoCon) got off to a slow start as the Spartans raced out of the gates on an 11-0 run over the first two minutes of the game, capitalizing on two Lady Catamount turnovers and a pair of missed jumpers. Then, at the end of the contest, WCU sophomore Monique Dawson sank a pair of free throws to give Western a one-point, 60-59, lead with 2:22 remaining in regulation. Dawson's charity shots, though, would prove to be the Lady Cats final points as the Spartans ended much like they began, outscoring Western 10-0 down the stretch for the nine-point victory.

Dawson led the way for the Lady Catamounts, tallying her sixth-straight, double-digit scoring effort with 16 and a pair of steals. Freshman Lauren Powell, who has scored in double-figures in all but two of her career contests, added 14 points including a 4-of-8 showing from behind the 3-point arc.

Sophomore Chevon Keith chipped in eight points, including a 4-for-4 showing from the free throw line, with her classmate, Jessika Johnson, and junior Erin May each boarding a team-high seven rebounds. Guards Ashley Pellom and Teshymia Tillman each dished out three assists apiece.

After spotting the Spartans the 11-point advantage early in the first half, UNCG survived a 10-1 run by the Lady Catamounts which shrunk the deficit to two, 19-17, with 12:43 remaining until the break. The Spartans countered with a 9-2 spurt to push the advantage back to nine, 28-19, and would stretch their lead to as many as 12 just before the half. Western ended the first with six-unanswered points to trail by six at intermission, 43-37.

Coming out of the locker room, Western picked up where it had left off prior to the halftime buzzer, scoring five quick points to cut the game to one, 42-42. All told, the Lady Catamounts put together an 11-0 run spanning the two halves, but were unable to pull ahead. UNCG managed to pull back out by four, but were held in check as Western forced the game's first tie, 49-49, at the 13:26 mark. Over the next six minutes, the seesaw affair would endure two additional ties, with the Lady Catamounts taking their first lead of the game on a Powell 3-pointer, 56-55, with five and a half to play. Western took its third and final one-point advantage on the Dawson free throws before going cold from the field. During UNC Greensboro's decisive 10-0 run to close the game, Western committed three turnovers and missed three jump shots.

Western out rebounded the Spartans 41-35, but committed 23 turnovers to UNCG's 15.

UNC Greensboro (7-9, 3-4 SoCon) matched WCU's pair in double-figures, led by a dozen from juniors Jasmine Byrd and 10 points from Irene Otamiri. Sophomore Megan Chamberlain finished with nine points and eight rebounds, while her front court classmate, Kristen Boone, scored six while swiping six steals and dishing out three assists in the win.

Western concludes its season-long, four-game home stand this Saturday, Jan. 21 hosting Furman at 5:00 pm in the Ramsey Center. UNC Greensboro visits Triad neighbor, Elon, on Saturday at 4:00 pm.