Nov. 16, 2007

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - One of the strongest outings of the young season turned into one of the most heartbreaking for Western Carolina women's basketball (2-1) dropping a nail-biter, 70-67, in front of a crowd of 4,109 to host Minnesota (3-0) in the opening game of the Minnesota Subway Classic. The Lady Catamounts have little time to mourn their loss as WCU faces off against No. 21/22 Louisville at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Western Carolina's last lead of the game was 58-57 with a little over six minutes left. Minnesota went on an 8-0 run to build a seven point lead, 65-58, in the span of over a minute and built what seemed to be a comfortable lead.

The Lady Catamounts would continue to fight and thanks to back-to-back lay-ups by Ashley Pellom and Chevon Keith, Western Carolina trailed by three with three minutes left in the game. Minnesota again inflated the lead to seven points and again WCU fought back. With 1:42 left junior center Brook Johnson nailed a huge three-pointer from the top of the key to shave the Golden Gopher lead to four, 69-65.

Western Carolina got the Minnesota fans even more nervous when Pellom connected on a pair of free throws with nine ticks left on the clock. At the in-bounds, Western Carolina fouled Minnesota's Brittany McCoy and placed her on the free throw line as the Lady Catamounts were in the bonus. McCoy hit one of two from the charity stripe and WCU pulled down the rebound.

Western Carolina took one final shot at the basket but the ball didn't fall their way and the horn sounded to end the game.

The Lady Catamounts had a good showing in the first half as well. Western Carolina trailed Minnesota by three, 33-30, at the half. Western Carolina stayed in the game in the first half despite going four minutes, in the waning minutes of the first half, without scoring a basket. Pellom pulled Western Carolina within three at the half thanks to a lay-up with 27 seconds left on the clock.

Western Carolina shot a season-high 40 percent from the field and was 45.5 percent from the field in the second half alone. The Lady Catamounts also had six blocks, as a team, in the game. WCU was out rebounded by Minnesota 42 to 39.

Two Lady Catamounts notched season-highs and one Western Carolina player tied her career-high. Pellom and Lauren Powell scored season highs, with Pellom leading the team with 18 points and Powell ranking second with 14. Johnson tied her career-high five blocks.

Freshman Emily Clarke scored in double figures for the second time in three games with 10 points against Minnesota.

HEAD COACH Kellie Harper QUOTES:

"This game was quite an experience for our players. It had to be a fun game to watch - it was a great atmosphere for women's college basketball. I am proud of my team's effort. To have an opportunity to beat Minnesota on their home court says a lot about our team - because Minnesota is a very good basketball team."

TALK ABOUT THE REBOUNDING OF THE TEAM:

"Our team prides our self on our board play. We knew Minnesota did the same. We were outsized - they were a little bigger then us. Our players are disappointed we didn't do a better job on the boards then we did."

TALK ABOUT THE QUAILITY OF PLAY TO START THE GAME:

"I felt like coming out and making a few shots was really key to our confidence. We felt like we could play with these guys. Knocking down shots when we really haven't been shooting well was big for us."

AFTER A GAME LIKE THIS HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A GAME THE NEXT DAY?

"This is an unbelievable quick turnaround - considering Louisville hasn't played. You have to have a quick turnaround. You have to let it hurt, we believe in letting losses hurt a little bit, and then you have to move on in a hurry. You have to get your team back up - and we will do the best we can as a coaching staff to do that."