Jan. 3, 2009

Box Score

BOONE, N.C. - Western Carolina freshman Kaila'Shea Menendez led all scorers with a career-high 17 points to pace Western Carolina women's basketball to a 92-55 win at Appalachian State Saturday in the Holmes Center. The Lady Catamounts improve to 7-6 and 3-2 in Southern Conference play while the Mountaineers fall to 1-11 and 0-4 in SoCon.

Western Carolina moves above .500 for the second time this season with its second Southern Conference road win of the year. It is also the third time this season the Lady Catamounts have won two consecutive games.

Appalachian State scored the first bucket of the game for an early 2-0 lead - the Mountaineers only lead of the game. Seniors Lauren Powell and Brooke Johnson quickly answered as Powell hit a jumper and Johnson connected on a three-pointer for the first five points of the game. Western Carolina would never trail in the game again.

The only Lady Catamount miscue in the first half was shooting just 5-of-14 from the free throw line. The club did bounce back at the charity strip in the second half, missing just three free throws 15-of-18, to end the game 20-of-32.

Western Carolina shot a scorching 50 percent from the field in the first half, which afforded the Lady Catamount youngsters to see quality playing time. The starting line-up for WCU played at most 16 minutes in the game allowing Western Carolina's youth to show their talents on the court.

Menendez shone on the court going 5-of-6 from the field, 1-for-1 from behind the arch and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Fellow freshman Diamond Hunnicutt also scored a career-high with 12 points.

Not to be outdone, a pair of veterans also scored in double figures in the contest. Johnson and Powell each had 10 points after the first 20 minutes of the game and made the most of their four and five minutes respectively in the second half. Powell ended the game with 14 points and Johnson had 15 points in just 13 minutes of play.

Johnson's double figure scoring performance was her second consecutive and eighth of the season. She also tied with Hunnicutt for most rebounds against the Mountaineers with eight.

The 19 point lead at the half, 44-25, was the largest of the season for the Lady Catamounts this season. Western Carolina's 92 points against Appalachian State was the most by the team this season as well. The 37-point margin of victory is also the largest of the year.

Western Carolina ended the game shooting 47.8 percent from the field and scored 30 of its points off Mountaineer turnovers. The Lady Catamounts also got 54 of its 92 points from their bench.

The Lady Catamounts continue their road swing Monday traveling to Greenville, S.C. to take on Furman. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.