Jan. 20, 2007

Final Stats

Greenville, S.C. - Sophomore guard Lauren Powell just missed her career-high, scoring 21 points Saturday afternoon to lead Western Carolina over the Furman Lady Paladins, 58-47, at Timmons Arena. The win was the fourth-straight for the Lady Catamounts this season, matching their longest winning streak since taking four-consecutive to win the 2005 Southern Conference Championship.

Powell connected on 10-of-18 from the floor, including WCU's lone 3-pointer, missing her career-high by one. The sophomore from Asheville, N.C., scored 22 in the home win over Furman last season. Transfer Brooke Johnson connected on 6-of-7 from the free throw line in scoring 10 points as the only other Lady Cat in double figures. Johnson added three steals with two blocks and two assists in the win.

Junior Jessika Johnson chipped in eight points on the afternoon, with her classmates Chevon Keith and Ashley Pellom each added six points, with Keith pacing the squad with nine rebounds as Western took its fifth-straight from Furman.

Neither team could take control of the game early in the first half as the scoreboard was knotted six times through the first 10 minutes of the opening stanza. Tied for the seventh time, 20-20 with five minutes remaining in the half, Powell scored five-straight points to give Western its largest lead of the game, 25-20, which was also the margin of the halftime advantage.

Out of the locker room, Western was able to push the advantage to nine, five minutes into the frame, and eventually stretched the lead to as many as 11, 42-31, at the 10:59 mark before the Lady Paladins were able to rally. Furman scored six-straight to slice the deficit to five, 42-37, but that was as close as they would get as Western seven-consecutive points to pull out to its largest lead of the game, 12. Inside the final minute, Furman closed to within seven, 54-47, but Brooke Johnson and Heather Swayne each drained a pair of free throws inside the final 44 seconds to secure the victory.

Furman (6-13, 1-7 SoCon) was led by junior Chrissy Phelps with 13 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Sarah Baker and Kali Holtfreter had solid second halves for the Paladins with Baker scoring six of her eight and Holtfreter tallying all eight of her points after halftime.

The game endured seven ties and 11 lead changes overall, with WCU taking the lead for good with five minutes showing on the first half clock. The Lady Catamounts out rebounded Furman, 43-to-35, including 21 offensive boards for WCU.

Western Carolina opens a three-game home stand on Monday, Jan. 22 by hosting the College of Charleston Cougars on Education Day, presented by Papa's Pizza To Go of Cullowhee. The WCU Athletic Department will also offer "Lunch and a Game" on Monday where for $5.00, fans can get a ticket to the game and a voucher for a free hot dog, drink, and a bag of chips from the concessions stand. Tip-off is set for Noon in the Ramsey Center.

Monday's game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard in Western North Carolina on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 or on-line at www.WWCUFM.com and www.CatamountSports.com. Brandon Stephens and Steven Crumpler will have the call.