Jan. 27, 2007

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Junior Ashley Pellom scored 14 of her game-high 18 points during a decisive 28-to-7 first half run to put the Lady Catamounts ahead by 23, and then held off a late charge by the Terriers as Western Carolina captured its school-record, sixth-straight Southern Conference victory, 79-65, Saturday afternoon over Wofford.

With the win, Western (14-7, 8-2 SoCon) moves into a three-way tie for first place in the SoCon with Davidson (L at UNC Greensboro, 78-55) and Chattanooga (W at Elon, 58-50). Also, the current six-game winning streak is the longest since winning eight-in-a-row during the 1986-87 season.

Pellom just missed tying her career-best on the afternoon connecting on 6-of-7 from the floor including a 3-pointer and a perfect 5-for-5 showing from the foul line. The Wilmington, N.C., native also dished out four assists with two rebounds and a steal. Pellom's classmate Chevon Keith posted her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds, with sophomore Brooke Johnson scoring 11 with seven rebounds and junior Monique Dawson finishing with 10 points, 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

Senior Lynsie Lamitie, who is one of four Lady Cats to have started every game this season, finished with nine points, one shy of tying her career-high, with freshman Heather Swayne scoring four and dishing out a career-best three assists.

Wofford sophomore Liz Miller connected on two free throws to give the Terriers a short-lived two-point, 4-2, lead four minutes into the first half. However, a Lauren Powell 3-pointer put Western ahead for good at the 16:29 mark. Up two, 7-5, Western embarked on a 28-to-7 run over the next nine minutes to take its largest lead of the first half, 23, with 6:26 to play before intermission. During the run, Pellom scored 14 points, including swishing just her second 3-pointer of the season and shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe, while also dishing three assists.

The Terriers outscored WCU 13-to-6 to end the half and slice the Lady Catamount lead to 16, 41-25, at the break.

Out of the halftime locker room, Western was able to balloon the lead back to 19 before Wofford closed to within 16, 51-35, at the 13:35 mark. The Lady Catamounts used an 8-0 spurt from the 10:51 mark until 7:43 to take their largest lead of the game, 25, capped by jumper by Kristen Feemster to lead 65-40.

Western's advantage hung in the 20s until a late surge by the Terriers. Wofford capitalized on five WCU turnovers as a part of a 12-to-2 run, pulling to within 10, 75-65, with just under a minute to play in regulation. However, Dawson and Keith combined to connect on all six free throw attempts inside the final minute to secure the victory.

Miller scored 15 to lead Wofford (9-11, 3-7 SoCon) with her fifth-straight, double-figure scoring outing, with junior Kelsi Koenig adding 14 points. Freshman Kelly Dwyer recorded a career-high 13 points including a perfect 6-for-6 showing from the free throw line with senior K.C. Correll tallying 10 points. Koenig and freshman Kathlyn Varno each boarded six misses in the loss for the Terriers.

The Lady Catamounts conclude their three-game home stand on Monday night in the first half of a Catamount basketball double-header. Western's women hosts the Elon Phoenix at 5:00 pm, while the Catamount men entertain Wofford at approximately 7:30 pm. The Lady Cats will look to avenge a five-point defeat at Elon back in early January. Both games Monday night will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard in Western North Carolina on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee or on-line at www.WWCUFM.com.

Monday night is also Sonic Greek Night. Everyone in attendance will receive a coupon for a FREE Sonic hotdog, redeemable at the Sonic Drive-In of Sylva. There will also be shooting contests at both games for more Sonic food, with a hotdog eating contest planned for halftime of the men's game. Also, the Sonic Skaters will be on hand on Sonic Night.