Dec. 30, 2008

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Sophomore Emily Clarke scored 19 points and Brooke Johnson recorded her first double-double of the season to push Western Carolina women's basketball to the .500 mark, 6-6, and close out 2008 with a victory, defeating UNC Wilmington (6-4) 73-63 Tuesday in the Ramsey Center.

Clarke was on fire in the first half completing the first 20 minutes of the game with 13 points and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and also 3-for-3 from behind the three point line. She carried over her perfection to start the second half, hitting a three-pointer to start the second 20 minutes, going 6-for-6 before missing a three-pointer from the left side. Clarke ended the game 6-of-7 from the field, 4-of-5 from the three-point mark and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.

Johnson, as stated above, notched her first double-double of the season with 12 points and a season-high 13 rebounds; it is the fifth double-double of her career. She also had three blocks, just one shy of her season-high. She now has 20 blocks on the season and needs just 11 blocks to move into second place in the Lady Catamount record books for blocks in a career.

Western Carolina also came out showing little ill effects from its loss last week to Georgia Southern, and the seven days off from playing thanks to the Christmas holidays. The Lady Catamounts quickly built a 13 point lead in the first six minutes of the game; capped off by a by a jumper by Kaila'Shea Menendez.

UNC Wilmington soared back, however, as the Seahawks went on an 18-2 run in a seven minutes span to take their first lead of the game. Western Carolina battled and finally tied the game twice before taking the lead with 1:05 left in the half from a jumper by Menendez who was also fouled and hit a free throw to complete the three-point play. After a UNCW turnover with 12 seconds left, Johnson got free for an open look under the basket to score a lay-up with eight seconds left on the clock.

The Lady Catamounts built back a double-digit lead off a jumper by Kendra Carroll with 15:03 left in the game. UNC Wilmington continued to battle and kept the Western Carolina lead below double digits until Kendra Eaton hit a lay-up with 10:39 left to push the WCU lead back to 10, 57-47. Western Carolina would hold a double digit lead the rest of the game.

UNC Wilmington won the rebounding battle pulling down 40 boards to Western Carolina's 39. The Lady Catamounts made it count in the field shooting 48.2 percent and was also 11-17 from the free throw line. UNC Wilmington struggled at the free throw line, as the club who normally shoots 75 percent from the charity stripe shot just 50 percent; 15-of-30.

After failing to post a double digit scorer in its last game, Western Carolina had three against UNC Wilmington. Clarke of course paced the club with 19 points and was followed by Johnson with 12. Heather Swayne rounded out the double figure scoring coming off the bench to score in double figures for the third time this season with 10 points against the Seahawks.

Western Carolina returns to Southern Conference action Saturday traveling to Boone, N.C. to take on Appalachian State. Tip time is set for 2 p.m.