Box Score Feb. 18, 2008
Box Score |
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina may soon be known as the "Cardiac Cats" after playing its second overtime game in the last three contests - escaping Furman's upset bid 93-84 in two overtimes Monday in the Ramsey Center. The Lady Catamounts improve to 21-6 overall and 13-2 in the Southern Conference while Furman falls to 8-18 and 3-12 in conference play.
Lauren Powell's heroics in the first overtime made sure Western Carolina had extra life to head into the second overtime. Trailing by two the Lady Catamounts got a lift when Furman's Chrissy Phelps missed both her free throws with 12 seconds remaining. Powell not only pulled down the rebound after Phelp's second miss but she also launched a shot just as the clock wound down to zero, about two feet inside the three-point line, and drained the basket as the buzzer sounded. The game was going into its second overtime.
Western Carolina built what seemed like a comfortable 19-point lead in the second half of regulation after leading by nine, 33-24, at the half. The Lady Catamounts went on a 15-5 run in the first five minutes of the second half to lead the Paladins 48-29.
It was after that the Lady Catamounts grew frigid from the field and Furman began to heat up. In the ensuing 12 minutes of the game, the Paladins went on a 34-15 run to trail by just one, 63-62 with 3:30 remaining.
The game got very interesting when Phelps hit a jumper with 2:48 left to give Furman its first lead of the game, 64-63. Senior Jessika Johnson answered with a lay-up to help Western Carolina reclaim the lead, 65-64, with 1:13 left. Furman built a two-point lead when Lee Stephens hit a driving lay-up and was fouled. Stephens hit the free throw with five seconds left in regulation.
After in bounding the ball and calling timeout, Western Carolina had one play. Senior guard Ashley Pellom attempted to put the ball back in play but as the ball sailed in Chevon Keith's direction she was fouled by Furman. Keith went to the line and nailed both free throws to send the game into overtime.
After Powell's huge shot to send the game into the second overtime, Western Carolina took control in the second OT. Senior Monique Dawson hit a lay-up to start the second overtime to give the Lady Catamounts a 79-77 lead. The Paladins would tie the game at 81 but freshman Emily Clarke quickly hit a jumper to give Western Carolina the lead. The Lady Catamounts would never trail in the second overtime.
Western Carolina has played a total of six overtime frames in two of its last three games. The Lady Catamounts are now 2-1 in overtime games this season and a perfect 8-0 in games played on Monday. The club also won its seventh consecutive overall game, a season-high, and also it's seventh straight at home.
Five Lady Catamounts scored in double figures against Furman. Keith, Powell and Johnson each lead the team with 13 points. Kendra Eaton tallied her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kristen Feemster scored a career-high 11 points. Pellom dished out a season-high eight assists.
Western Carolina plays its final home game of the season Saturday when the Lady Catamounts host Georgia Southern. Both teams are vying for sole possession of second place in the Southern Conference race. It is also senior day for Keith, Dawson, Johnson and Pellom.
HEAD COACH Kellie Harper QUOTES:
"I am really proud of our team for finding a way to win and making big plays. It took two overtimes to win but I can really find some positives by the players down the stretch. We are really making games tighter then they need to be but you have got to credit the other teams for making big plays as well. We really kind of let the lead slip out of our hands in the second half and we are going to look at this film closely this week."
