Jan. 7, 2008

Box Score

BOONE, N.C. - Seniors Chevon Keith and Jessika Johnson had career nights scoring, Keith had 18 and Johnson had 20, to help push Western Carolina women's basketball to an 87-63 victory at Appalachian State Monday in Holmes Center. The Lady Catamounts win their second consecutive Southern Conference road game improving to 2-1 in the SoCon and 10-5 overall. Appalachian State falls to 2-12 and 0-4 in the SoCon.

Western Carolina had to overcome 21 first-half turnovers that led to 20 Appalachian State points. The club shaved its turnovers to just seven in the second half and ballooned a narrow seven-point lead at the half, 38-31, to as much as 26 in the second half. The Lady Catamounts trailed by just three points with under two seconds remaining when senior Monique Dawson launched a three-pointer near the half-court line to give WCU the six-point advantage.

The Lady Catamounts were also challenged by Head Coach Kellie Harper to improve their assists numbers. Prior to the game with the Mountaineers, the Lady Cats season-high assist total was 18 against UNC Asheville. Against Appalachian State, WCU bested its previous assists total and posted 23.

Western Carolina shot a season-high 54.8 percent from the field and also had a season-high 14 steals. The club held Appalachian State to 43.1 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from the three-point line.

Keith notched the sixth double-double of her career. Along with her career-high 18 points she also pulled down 13 rebounds. Johnson just missed a double-double as she had eight rebounds to go along with her career-best 20 points. It is the second time in three games a WCU player has scored 20 or more points.

Junior Lauren Powell rounded out the double figure scoring with 15 points against Appalachian State. It is the second consecutive game she has scored in double figures.

All 10 Lady Catamounts played and got in the scoring column in the game. Freshman Kendra Carroll scored a career-high four points and was also 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

Western Carolina ended its four-game road swing 2-2. The club returns home on Saturday to host UNC Greensboro. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.