Nov. 21, 2008

Box Score

CATAMOUNT TRACKS PODCAST - HARPER AND EATON POST GAME COMMENTS

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball (1-1) scored 37 points in the second half and held Lafayette (0-2) to just 17, in the final 20 minutes, to defeat the Leopards, 68-51, in the first round of the Preseason WNIT Consolation Bracket Friday in the Ramsey Center. The Lady Catamounts will face Liberty (1-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the winner's bracket while Lafayette and UC Riverside will play the night-cap at 9:30 p.m.

Lafayette opened the second half, leading Western Carolina 34-31, with a two-point bucket by LaKeisha Wright - it would prove to be the last field goal scored by the Leopards for over six minutes. In that time, Western Carolina reeled off a 12-0 run to build a 43-36 advantage at the 15:41 mark. The Lady Catamounts run began with a three-point bucket by senior Lauren Powell. WCU was also 5-of-5 at the free throw line in the scoring run and also enjoyed a field goal by Kendra Eaton.

Eaton was a force under the basket for Western Carolina. She ended the contest with a season-high 16 points and also had eight boards and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Sophomore Emily Clarke was the only other Lady Catamount to score in double figures with 10 points and was 2-for-2 from behind the arch.

Lafayette did manage to trim the Western Carolina lead to four, 45-41, which was the closest the Leopards would get in the second half. A pair of free throws by Kristen Feemster and a three-pointer by Clarke pushed the Lady Catamount lead to 10 and WCU didn't relinquish a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

The Lady Catamount freshmen saw plenty of quality minutes in the game against Lafayette. Kalia'Shea Menendez showed her calm as the clock wound down to end the game as with a second left she buried a three-pointer from the left side as the buzzer sounded. Menendez ended the contest with a career-high nine points and was 2-for-3 from the three point line.

Western Carolina won the rebounding advantage with 42 to Lafayette's 33, however, the club had just nine offensive boards. The team shot 40.8 percent from the field and was 23-31 from the free throw line for 74.2 percent.

Brooke Johnson led the Catamounts in rebounding with all of her nine boards coming from the defensive side. She also had six points and one block, marking the second straight game she has notched at least one block in a game.

With the win over Lafayette, Western Carolina picked up its first win in a Preseason WNIT event and is now 2-0 in WNIT contests the Lady Catamounts host. Overall WCU is 2-3 in the WNIT.