Jan. 12, 2009

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball fell to Southern Conference rival Chattanooga 84-71 Monday in the Ramsey Center. The Lady Catamounts fall to 8-8 and 4-4 in the Southern Conference while the Mocs improve to 11-6 and 7-1 in the SoCon.

The Mocs scorched Western Carolina from behind the three-point line, which turned out to be one of the key difference makers in the game. After hitting three treys in the first half, Chattanooga lit up the court with eight three-pointers in the second half to end the game with 11.

After a poor shooting night against Samford on January 10, Western Carolina did bounce back in its shooting percentage against Chattanooga. The Lady Catamounts, after shooting just over 20 percent against the Bulldogs, shot about its average of 42.6 percent against the Mocs.

Western Carolina came out blazing to start the game scoring the first seven points of the contest. Chattanooga answered with the next seven points to tie the game. The Lady Catamounts built a 22-13 nine point lead with 11:54 to go before Chattanooga closed out the half on a 24-10 run to lead 37-32.

The Lady Catamounts opened the second half on a 4-0 run to cut the Chattanooga lead down to one point, 37-36, before Erin Ogan drained a three-pointer from the left side. A lay-up by Kendra Eaton and a free throw by Jessica Jackson helped Western Carolina cut the Mocs' lead back to one again, but a pair of Shanara Hollinquest free throws pushed the lead back to three and Chattanooga was never threatened again.

Western Carolina did keep the Chattanooga advantage below double digits for the first eight minutes of the game but a three-pointer by Andrea Neil pushed the Chattanooga lead to 10 with 11:35 left. Twice in the final five minutes a free throw by Jackson and a bucket by Feemster trimmed the Mocs lead to single digits, nine points, but Chattanooga always had an answer to push its lead back to double digits.

The Lady Catamounts were outrebounded 40-33 in the contest but did commit just 14 turnovers. The club also had seven steals.

Sophomore guard/forward Emily Clarke lead Western Carolina with 14 points and also had four rebounds. Senior Brooke Johnson added 10 points and two blocks, which gives her 100 for her career. making Johnson just the third player in school history to go over 100 blocks in her career.

Western Carolina completes its three-game home-stand Saturday hosting UNC Greensboro. Tip time is set for 4 p.m.