Dec. 2, 2006

Final Stats

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Eastern Kentucky opened the second half with a 21-to-4 run to erase a one-point halftime deficit, and then held Western Carolina to 22-percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes to hand the Lady Catamounts an 83-66 setback in the Courtyard Classic at the McKenzie Arena.

Western put four players in double-figures led by 14 from sophomore Lauren Powell, 12 of which came in the opening half. Junior Monique Dawson finished with 12 points, 10 from the free throw line, while her classmate Chevon Keith just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine boards, including six on the offensive end. Senior Lynsie Lamitie rounded out WCU's double-digit scorers with a career-high 10 points and seven rebounds.

Also for the Lady Cats, freshman Heather Swayne tallied her first career points, posting a career-high seven, with junior guard Ashley Pellom just missing tying her career-best with nine assists.

WCU led by as many seven points at the midway point of the first half and managed a one-point, 37-36 lead at the break. However, the Lady Colonels drained back-to-back 3-pointers out of the locker room to ignite their run while Western struggled from the field, making just two if its first 18 shots from the field.

All-told, Western connected on just nine of 41 shots in the second half, 22-percent, while EKU managed to shoot 58-percent from the field for a combined 53-percent for the game en route to the win.

Eastern Kentucky took advantage of Western being short two post players scoring 42 points in the paint. Both WCU senior Erin May and sophomore Kendra Eaton were suffering the after effects of concussions suffered at UNC Asheville on Wednesday night. Eaton managed four minutes off the bench, but was unable to sustain time on the court.

Like Western, the Lady Colonels (3-4) put four in double figures led by 23 points from post Amber Kirkpatrick. Guards Crystal Jones and Ashley Cazee added 18 and 13, respectively, while forward Andrea Jenkins tallied the game's lone double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Western Carolina returns to action on Sunday afternoon when it faces the Saint Joseph's Hawks at 1:00 pm in the Courtyard Classic. The game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard in Western North Carolina on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 or online at www.WWCUFM.com or www.CatamountSports.com. Brandon Stephens and Steven Crumpler have the call with a 12:45 pm air time.