Feb. 9, 2008

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball (18-6, 10-2 SoCon) looked to the bench for the bulk of its scoring in its 63-55 win at UNC Greensboro (5-18, 3-9 SoCon) Saturday in Fleming Gym. The Lady Catamount reserves accounted for over half of the final score, 45 points, assisting the five starters who combined for just 18 points.

It was the fourth straight game the Western Carolina defense held an opponent under 60 points and the Lady Catamounts needed that defensive pressure against the pesky Spartans. The score was tied 10 times and there were six lead changes in the contest.

Late in the first half, UNCG built a six point lead and looked like it might enjoy a scoring advantage heading into the locker room. With 3:58 remaining Western Carolina was down 25-19 but went on a 7-0 run to close out the half and take the lead. The youthful Cats got the lead for Western Carolina as sophomore Kristen Feemster hit a layup to cut the lead to four. Freshman Emily Clarke stole the ball and scored with 1:01 remaining and the UNCG advantage was down to two.

Perhaps one of the smoothest plays of the game came in the final five seconds of the first half. With three seconds remaining freshman Kendra Carroll missed a jumper and Clarke pulled down the rebound. She stepped back behind the three-point line, right in front of the Spartan bench, and drained a trey as the clocked ticked down to two seconds; giving Western Carolina a one-point lead, 26-25, heading into half time.

Western Carolina opened the second half with a 5-0 run thanks to a pair of free throws by Chevon Keith and a steal by Kendra Eaton that Jessika Johnson converted into a lay-up.

UNCG would continue to battle, tying the game three times and taking the lead twice in the second half, but Western Carolina was just as adept at battling. With the scored tied for the 10th time, at 38, Clarke gave the Lady Catamounts the lead for good with a lay-up which tied her career-high of 13 points.

Western Carolina built its biggest lead of the game, eight points, twice with the last time occurring with 4:19 remaining in the game. The Spartans cut the lead down to three points with 3:42 left but just like the rest of the game, the Lady Catamounts had an answer for UNCG with Feemster hitting a lay-up. UNCG never got any closer.

Both teams struggled at the free throw line, with neither team connecting from the charity stripe in the first half. UNCG ended the game 4-of-15 from the free throw line and Western Carolina was 9-of-18. Ashley Pellom hit five of the Lady Cat free throws going 5-of-6 from the free throw line.

Pellom was the only other Lady Cat to score in double figures as she matched Clarke with 13 points. Feemster turned in a solid performance with nine points and eight rebounds and Carroll added eight points and two rebounds.

The Lady Catamounts continue their road swing heading to Elon on Monday. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.

HEAD COACH Kellie Harper QUOTES:

"It wasn't a pretty basketball game. It was kind of sloppy and a lot of shots were missed. We talked to our players about it. We haven't come out like we have in the last two games. I was proud of the way battled through our slow start and find a way to win. I thought in the second half we did a better job of getting the ball inside. I was really proud of Emily Clarke coming in and getting 13 points and playing big minutes for us. Kristen Feemster played well also - coming up with eight boards. At one points I put her [Feemster] in just to grab rebounds.