Jan. 17, 2009

Box Score

FEEMSTER AND HARPER POSTGAME INTERVIEW ON CATAMOUNT TRACKS PODCAST

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball had three score in double figures, and halted a two-game losing streak, with a 57-49 win over UNC Greensboro Saturday in the Ramsey Center. The Lady Catamounts improve to 9-8 and 5-4 in the Southern Conference while the Spartans fall to 6-12 and 3-6 in the SoCon.

Senior center Brooke Johnson led Western Carolina with 15 points, all in the second half, and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Johnson also had three blocks against UNC Greensboro moving into second place in the Lady Catamount record books for blocks in a career with 103.

Junior Kristen Feemster followed in double figure scoring, tying her career-high with 14 points and also had eight boards. Sophomore Emily Clarke rounded out the double figure scoring with 13 points.

Clarke's offensive outburst in the first half drug Western Carolina out of its scoring drought in the first half. After Feemster hit a layup to tie the game at four, with 16:20 left in the first half, the Lady Catamounts did not score again for seven minutes until Clarke connected on a jumper with 9:39 on the clock, allowing UNCG to build a 10-point advantage

Clarke proceeded to score 11 straight points for the Lady Catamounts and cut the UNCG lead to three when she nailed a three-pointer with 6:24 left. The Spartans built its lead back to seven points twice, before Western Carolina scored the final four points of the half, thanks to a pair of free throws by Kendra Carroll and a lay-up by Heather Swayne. The Lady Catamounts trailed by three, 27-24, at the half.

The game was tied for the third time after a layup by Brooke Johnson knotted the contest at 37 with 12:49 left in the game. Feemster quickly followed Johnson with a layup to give Western Carolina its first lead of the contest, 39-37. UNCG answered with a bucket from Gini Grimsely for the fourth tie, 39-39, in the game with 11:01 left.

Western Carolina took the lead for good again thanks to Feemster hitting a layup with 8:57 left. The Lady Catamounts built its largest lead of the game, eight points, off a pair of Clarke free throws with 3:37 left.

UNCG threatened in the final three minutes of the game when Grimsley nailed a jumper and Kendra Smith also hit a bucket to cut Western Carolina's lead to four, 51-47. Johnson answered with a layup after she ripped down an offensive rebound. The Lady Catamounts were a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw in the final minute of the game to keep the Spartans at bay.

Western Carolina won the rebounding battle ripping down 44 to the Spartan's 37, with 29 of the boards defensive. The Lady Catamounts also got 23 points from their bench and 14 points off turnovers.

The Lady Catamounts head back on the road Monday when the club travels to Elon. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.