Jan. 3, 2008

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. - UNC Wilmington's Shade Smith hit a desperation shot just inches beyond the three-point line to give the Seahawks a buzzer beater win, 90-88, in overtime as time expired Thursday at Trask Coliseum. Western Carolina falls to 8-5 and UNC Wilmington improves to 9-2.

The Lady Catamounts led by one point, 88-87, with 3.5 seconds remaining thanks to a three-point play by senior Ashley Pellom. Western Carolina trailed by two, 87-85, with seven seconds left when Pellom drove down the court hitting a lay-up and getting fouled. She drained the free throw to give WCU the one point lead. UNC Wilmington in-bounded the ball under Western Carolina's basket and passed it to mid court where it found its way into Smith's hands for her heroic bucket.

Western Carolina had a chance to put the game away in regulation when Chevon Keith broke a 72 all tie with a jumper with 53 seconds remaining. After UNCW got the ball back, Treasure Johnson fouled Monique Dawson and she went to the line for two shots, missing them both and giving the ball back to the Seahawks. With eight seconds remaining, Candace Walker hit a jumper to tie the game. Keith missed a jumper and Pellom got the rebound and attempted a field goal, but the ball hit the rim and rolled out as the second half ended.

Western Carolina looked to have UNC Wilmington well in hand as the Lady Cats went on a 16-0 run in the first five minutes of the game. After holding the Seahawks scoreless, WCU allowed UNCW to make a 28-15 run to only trail by five, 33-28, at the half.

It was a shootout in the second half. Western Carolina and UNC Wilmington traded baskets for most of the second half. The Lady Cats shot 55.6 percent from the field but UNC Wilmington bested them, shooting 62.1 percent.

For the game, UNCW shot 53.7 percent from the field and Western Carolina shot 42.5. The Lady Cats out-rebounded the Seahawks 46-39 and was even, 23 all, both offensively and defensively. WCU was also 15-of-22 from the free throw line.

Hidden amongst the heartbreaking loss was the play of the Lady Catamounts' four seniors. Dawson hit a milestone by going over 1,000 points in her career. She needed 15 and scored 20 in the game to have 1,005 for her career.

Pellom had a stellar game with the girl's basketball team from her high school, North Brunswick, in the stands. Pellom tied her career-high with 21 points, just the third time in her career she has scored 20 or more points.

Keith tallied her fifth double-double of the season with a season-high 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jessika Johnson just missed a double-double with eight points and a season-high 11 rebounds.

The game against UNC Wilmington was the last non-conference game of the season for Western Carolina. The Lady Cats enter conference play full-time Saturday when the squad travels to Davidson for a 2 p.m. tip-off. WCU will try and halt a three-game losing streak and salvage the four-game road trip the club is currently on.

SENIOR Ashley Pellom QUOTES:

Talk about the three-point play near the end of the overtime:

"We just needed to get a basket as quick as possible. I was just trying to drive in and if they didn't pick me up then I was supposed to take it to the basket. If they did I was supposed to kick it out and find someone open."

Talk about the end of the game:

"I commend UNCW. They made some great plays down the stretch. We didn't get the stops when we needed to. The shot by UNCW was a great shot. That happens to someone once in a lifetime.

HEAD COACH Kellie Harper QUOTES:

"We were doing a pretty good job offensively coming down and scoring but defensively, for us, UNCW was coming down and putting points on the board. We could trade baskets with them for a while but then we would miss and they would come down and score again. They just shot an incredible percentage, part of that they were making good shots. UNCW had very few breakdowns defensively."

Talk about the play of Ashley Pellom:

"When the game was on the line we put the basketball in Ashley's hands. That is what she means to us."