Nov. 25, 2009

Box Score

ANCHORAGE, AK. - Western Carolina women's basketball (1-4) dropped the consolation game of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout 72-64 to Coastal Carolina (3-2) Wednesday.

The Catamounts were led by sophomore guard Kaila'Shea Menendez with a career-high 21 points who also sank all 10 of her charity shots. Catamounts guard Jessica Jackson dished a game-high nine assists in the loss.

The Chanticleers took a 41-34 lead at halftime thanks to a 12-0 run late in the first half. With 8:27 remaining in the game, Ahaus nailed a jump shot to give her team its largest lead at 59-46.

The Catamounts, of the Southern Conference, scrapped within 63-58 on Brittany Ferguson's free throw with 3:45 left, and sliced it to a one-possession game on Menendez's layup at the 1:02 mark, making it 67-64.

But Amanda Stull answered with a pair of free throws and WCU's Emily Clarke missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to end the late rally.

Western Carolina hit just three field goals in the final nine minutes of the second half, scoring 13 of its final 16 points at the free throw line. Overall, the Catamounts were 19-of-27 from the charity strip and hit just one of nine three-pointers.

Junior guard Katie Ahaus scored 10 of her 14 points in the first half Wednesday to lead Coastal Carolina to a 72-64 victory over Western Carolina for third place in the women's Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.

Coastal also got 17 points and eight rebounds from junior guard Sydnei Moss, while senior guard Stull scored all 11 of her points from the free-throw line.

Western Carolina returns home on Sunday to host James Madison University. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.