Jan. 19, 2009

Box Score

EATON AND HARPER POSTGAME INTERVIEW ON CATAMOUNT TRACKS PODCAST

ELON, N.C. - Senior forward Kendra Eaton scored a season-high 17 points leading Western Carolina women's basketball to a 78-50 victory over Elon Monday in Alumni Gym. The Lady Catamounts improve to 10-8 and 6-4 in the Southern Conference and Elon falls to 1-17 and 0-10 in the SoCon.

Eaton was one of four Western Carolina players to score in double figures in the contest. Eaton had 10 points in the first half, scoring her final seven in the second. Fellow senior Brooke Johnson recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, with 10 of the boards on the defensive end. Kaila'Shea Menendez had 12 points and senior Lauren Powell added 10.

Western Carolina held a nine-point advantage, 35-26, at the half and exploded in the second half building as much as a 30-point lead on the Phoenix. The Lady Catamounts held the Phoenix to 18 field goals, on 65 attempts, and 27.7 percent from the field. After connecting on 10 field goals in the first half, Elon only had eight in the second.

Elon took advantage of its trips to free throw line hitting 13-of-19 from the charity stripe. Seven of the Phoenix's first nine points in the second half were made at the free throw line.

Western Carolina went on a 34-16 run in the first 12 minutes of the second half to take a slim nine-point lead and balloon it to 20 points. In that span, Elon made just three field goals.

The Lady Catamounts shot 47 percent from the field and was 70.6 (12-of-17) from the free throw line. Western Carolina also had 47 rebounds in the contest, 35 on the defensive side.

Elon had just one player score in double figures with Amber Walls recording a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Five of Walls' points came from the charity stripe as she was a perfect 5-for-5.

The win at Elon was Western Carolina's fourth straight road victory, after starting the season 0-5 on the road. The club has also won its last two contests.

Western Carolina will have six days off before returning home to face Davidson Monday Jan. 26. The contest is part of Education Day at Western Carolina with the game starting at 12 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.