Dec. 15, 2007

Box Score

HONOLULU, Hi. - Senior Monique Dawson tied her season-high with 17 points as the Western Carolina women's basketball team (6-2) defeated host Hawaii (3-4) 69-60 in the first game of the Paradise Classic Friday in the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Lady Catamounts again took advantage of their trips to the free throw line to help them secure the win. Western Carolina went to the charity strip 26 times and connected on 18 free throws hitting 69.2 percent for the game. In the first half alone, WCU was 11-of-14.

Western Carolina led by six, 34-28, at the half but a 15-8 run by Hawaii in the first eight minutes of the second half gave the Rainbow Wahine their first lead, 43-42, since they lead 19-18 with 8:12 to go in the first 20 minutes. The Lady Cats reclaimed the lead two minutes later thanks to a jumper by Chevon Keith.

The Rainbow Wahine battled back and tied the game at 46 with 7:57 remaining. A three-point play by Lauren Powell in which she connected on a jumper and was fouled, hitting the free throw, gave WCU the lead again and the Lady Cats never relinquished it again. Up by seven points with 2:33 remaining, junior Brooke Johnson gave Western Carolina its largest lead of the game, 10, when she hit a three pointer from the left wing to make the score 63-53. Hawaii did cut the lead to six points twice in the final two minutes but Western Carolina was 6-of-8 from the free throw line to keep the Rainbow Wahine at bay.

Western Carolina shot just 35.3 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from the three point line in the game. The Lady Cats were out-rebounded by one, 43-42, but did get 25 defensive rebounds.

Johnson was the only other Lady Catamount in double figures with 13 points and also pulled down six rebounds. She also had three blocks in the game and now moves into fourth place in the WCU record books for blocks in a career with 71.

Western Carolina returns to action at the Paradise Classic at 11 a.m. Saturday here in Hawaii, 4 p.m. central time, taking on Oregon State.

THIS AND THAT NOTES: Sophomore Heather Swayne tallied a career-high two blocks ... Ashley Pellom also had a career-high two blocks ... Western Carolina is now 2-0 after a loss ... The win over Hawaii gives WCU a 1-0 advantage ... The Lady Catamounts are 4-1 in their last five games.

HEAD COACH Kellie Harper QUOTES:

"We didn't have a lot of energy tonight but we found a way to win the basketball game against a very tough team. I felt like we made the big shots when we needed them. They would make a run and then we would come back down and make a bit shot - I thought that was very important in our success tonight. We like the up tempo game and I thought Hawaii did a good job of keeping up with the pace."

"Monique Dawson knocking down a couple of three-pointers was very important. She played a pretty good basketball game. She attacked and she was aggressive. She is looking to get in the paint and that is what we need from her."

"Brooke Johnson has consistently scored for us in the paint and on the perimeter all season. She is a threat when she steps on the court."