Nov. 11, 2007

Box Score

PHOTO GALLERY AT CLEMSON

CLEMSON, S.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball tamed the Tigers of Clemson with a 62-53 victory at Littlejohn Coliseum Sunday. It was the first-ever victory for the Lady Catamounts over Clemson (1-1) and the first time since 2002 WCU has opened the season 2-0.

The Lady Catamounts shot just 23.1 percent in the first half and hit only six field goals but Western Carolina again proved they are a second-half team. Western Carolina doubled its shooting percentage in the second half, shooting 40.3 percent and was 15-of-37 from the field.

Western Carolina was down by three at half, 28-25. The club trailed by as much as 10 points, in the first half, with four minutes to go. However, the Lady Catamounts whittled it down to single digits hitting 5-of-6 from the free throw line and Chevon Keith connecting on a jumper in the final minutes of the half.

Early in the second half, Monique Dawson hit a lay-up with 14:15 left to play to tie the game at 33. The Lady Catamounts would tie the game again off a pair of free throws by junior Brooke Johnson. The club took its first lead of the second half, and second of the game, when Ashley Pellom hit a lay-up with 12:21 left.

Clemson retook the lead with 12:01 left when the Tiger's Kirstyn Wright drained a three-pointer. Western Carolina took its third and final lead of the game again thanks to Pellom who hit two of three consecutive baskets to build a 59-50 lead. Western Carolina would never relinquish the lead again.

Western Carolina shot 33.3 percent from the field and hit just two three-pointers in the game. The Lady Catamounts were 18-of-31 from the free throw line, shooting 58.1 percent. The club had 27 turnovers and forced Clemson to 28 turnovers.

The Lady Catamounts had two players who recorded double-doubles and four score in double figures in the game.

Senior Chevon Keith had 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds - the second consecutive game she has tallied a double-double. Keith also cracked the top-10 career list for rebounds as she now has 681 and surpasses former Lady Catamount Serena Surratt who had 669 from 1981-84.

Junior Brooke Johnson also notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. It was Johnson's third in her career.

Senior Monique Dawson led the Lady Catamounts with 17 points. She also had five rebounds and three assists.

Pellom ended the game with 13 points hitting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field. She also had two assists and two steals.

Western Carolina will travel to Minnesota next weekend to play in the Subway Classic. The Lady Catamounts face host Minnesota on November 16 at 7 p.m. and play Louisville at 3 p.m. November 17.

NOTES:

GOING 2-0: Western Carolina begins the season 2-0 for the first time since 2002. The club defeated Gardner-Webb and High Point to start the season five years ago. It is also the first time a club coached by Head Coach Kellie Harper has started a season 2-0.

FIRST-EVER WIN: The Lady Catamounts victory over Clemson is the first in school history for Western Carolina. It breaks a 7-0 streak the Tigers had over WCU.

CAREER-HIGH FOR KEITH: Senior Chevon Keith tallied a career-high 16 rebounds over Clemson.

SECOND TIMES A CHARM: Head Coach Kellie Harper faced in her first collegiate game as a Head Coach when she led the Lady Catamounts to face the Tigers in 2004. Just three short years later, Harper notched her first win over Clemson as a head coach and is now 1-1 over the Tigers at the helm of the WCU program.