Nov. 20, 2009

MIDDLETON TALKS ABOUT WIN OVER WOFFORD (AUDIO) Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball Head Coach Karen Middleton notched the first win over her career; and junior guard Kendra Carroll career poured in a career-high 18 points, in the Catamounts' 71-65 victory over Wofford Friday in the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts improve to 1-2 on the season, but more importantly get their first Southern Conference win of the year, while the Terriers fall to 1-3 and 0-1 in the SoCon.

Trailing by as much as seven points to start the first half, 13-6 with 16:01 left, the Catamounts were sparked with a three-pointer by junior Emily Clarke. It was the first of two three-pointers, the second by senior guard Jessica Jackson, opening up an 8-0 run and gave Western Carolina a one point lead 14-13, with 12:07 left.

Knotted twice, Western Carolina took the lead for good on one of two free-throws by sophomore Brittany Ferguson - the club never trailed again. The Catamounts had its largest lead of the half, at 10 points, twice the second time off a jumper by Carroll. WCU went into the locker room up by eight points, 36-28, after a pair of free throws by Jackson.

Western Carolina built its largest lead of the game, at 14 points, early in the second half when Carroll hit one of her two three-pointers. Overall, the Catamounts connected on a season-high seven three-pointers after being shut-out from behind the arch against East Carolina.

With 3:09 left to play, Western Carolina led Wofford by 11, 65-54, when the Terriers went on a mini run. Wofford outscored the Catamounts 11-6 in the final three minutes to only drop the contest by six points. The Terriers trimmed the Catamount lead to single digits after Maddie Helms hit a three-pointer with 43 seconds left to make the score 68-61. Jackson was 3-of-4 from the free throw line to close out the game and keep the Terriers at bay.

For the second straight game, Western Carolina had three players in double figures. Besides Carroll's career-high of 18 points, Clarke posted a season-high 17 points and Jackson had a season-high 11.

As a team, Western Carolina had a season-low 11 turnovers and our-rebounded Wofford 41-36. The 71 points was a season-high and it was also the first time this season Western Carolina has led at the half.

The Catamounts head North to Alaska on Saturday in preparation for the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage. Western Carolina opens with Cincinnati on Tuesday, November 24 at midnight Eastern. All four women's games will be streamed live on GoSeawolves.com. Full-tournament subscription packages cost $19.95, while single-day passes can be purchased for $9.95.