Feb. 13, 2006

Final Stats

Statesboro, Ga. - Junior Erin May tied her career-high with 11 points and sophomore Chevon Keith finished with 10, including a pair of free throws inside the final six seconds as Western Carolina rallied from down six in the second half to win on the road, knocking off Georgia Southern 65-62 Monday night in Southern Conference action at Hanner Fieldhouse.

Western (6-18, 6-9 SoCon) opened the game with a 15-to-5 run to pull ahead by 10, six minutes into the contest. The Lady Catamounts would stretch their lead to 15 midway through the half, and led by the same margin with 6:51 to play before the half after May connected on a lay-up. But Georgia Southern closed the half on a 19-4 run, including six made free throws, to tie the game at 33 at halftime.

In the second half, WCU regained the lead with three-straight points from freshman Kendra Eaton, pulling ahead 36-33. Georgia Southern recovered, though, taking its first lead of the game by one at the 16:05 mark when senior Nicole Newton connected on a lay-up in the lane. After enduring four ties, the Lady Eagles pulled out to their largest lead of six with seven minutes remaining in regulation.

Using an 8-0 spurt, Western rallied to retake the lead, 59-57. Georgia Southern responded with a 3-pointer by senior Lee DuBose, snapping the Lady Eagles' scoreless drought and retook the lead, 60-59. WCU sophomore Ashley Pellom drained a jumper to give Western back a short-lived advantage, 61-60, before Newton scored what would prove to be GSU's final points. Lady Cat freshman Amelia Miller gave WCU the lead for good, 63-62, with a minute remaining. Clinging to the one-point advantage, GSU's Shawnda Atwood missed a jumper in the lane, boarded her own miss, but could not connect on the follow-up and Western sophomore Chevon Keith pulled down the defensive rebound. Keith hit both free throws to seal the win.

All told, the lead changed five times during the final five minutes of the contest.

In addition to her career-high tying 11 points, May, who returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Jan. 28, added six rebounds, three assists, and a blocked shot. Keith finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, while sophomores Monique Dawson and Jessika Johnson each scored eight, with Johnson adding seven rebounds. Miller finished with six points and swiped a career-best five steals in the win.

Georgia Southern (9-15, 6-9 SoCon) put three players in double-figures, led by 14 points and nine rebounds by senior Nicole Newton. Atwood and Nya Daley each scored 11 points as the Lady Eagles dropped their third-straight.

On the night, Western finished 0-for-10 from 3-point range, marking the first time in 33-straight games that the Lady Catamounts did not connect from long-range. Western out rebounded Georgia Southern, who entered the game leading the SoCon in rebound margin (+4.1), 53-to-44, including a 22-to-17 advantage on the offensive glass. GSU and WCU ranked first and second in offensive rebounds entering the night.

Western returns to action this Saturday, visiting Furman in Greenville, S.C., at 3:00 pm. WCU defeated Furman earlier this season in overtime in Cullowhee, 79-73.