Nov. 10, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina junior Monique Dawson scored a team-high 16 points and swiped a career-best five steals Friday night, but it was not enough as the taller Auburn Tigers outscored the Lady Catamounts, 44-to-26, in the paint and survived a tenacious trapping defense to hold on for the 71-56 win in front of 1,979 fans in the Ramsey Center in the season openers for both schools.

Dawson, who also recorded six boards and three assists, was the lone Lady Catamount to reach double figures on the night with her classmate, Chevon Keith, just missing the double-double with nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds. A third junior, Ashley Pellom, also added nine points while sophomore forward Kendra Eaton tallied seven.

Already at a disadvantage against AU, who boasts an average team height of 6-1, Western's lineup was further hampered a mere 33 seconds into the contest. Junior post Jessika Johnson, the tallest of WCU's eligible interior players, went down with a sprained ankle on their first offensive possession.

After the injury, WCU fell behind 4-0 before it countered with a 6-0 run to take its first lead in the two-game series with the Tigers on free throws by Keith and senior Erin May. Down one, 20-19 at the 9:34 mark, Western went cold from the field over the next five minutes as Auburn embarked on a 14-2 run to take its largest lead of the first half, 34-21. WCU managed drop the deficit below double-figures before intermission, trailing by nine, 38-29, at the half.

Out of the locker room, Western was able to slice the lead to seven after a steal and fast-break, lay-up by Dawson. But the Tigers quickly ballooned the lead back to double-digits where they held it the majority of the second half, content to trade buckets with the upset-minded Lady Catamounts. Trailing by 14 - Auburn's largest lead until the waning seconds - with 6:24 to play in the second half WCU twice managed to cut the deficit to eight, but could not drop below that barrier, falling in the end by 15..

Auburn (1-0) put four players in double-figures led by a game-high 17 from sophomore Sherell Hobbs and 13 from her frontcourt teammate, Tamela McCorvey. The 6-7 sophomore post KeKe Carrier finished with 11, as did sophomore Trevesha Jackson.

Western Carolina returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 14 as it travels to Winston-Salem to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at 7:00 pm. Coverage from the Catamount Sports Network will begin at 6:45 pm and can be heard on www.CatamountSports.com.