Dec. 21, 2009

Box Score

(AUDIO) Highlights and interviews with Middleton and Hollifield

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The game against Western Carolina (2-9, 1-2 SoCon) and College Charleston (8-3, 4-0 SoCon) was billed as a rematch, a grudge-match, a chance to look back at an epic battle. Though the score reflected a 68-61 win for the Cougars, what it really turned out to be was a coming out party for sophomore transfer Catilin Hollifield, who exploded for a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds Monday in the Carolina First Arena.

Hollifield, who also had two blocks in the contest, was first off the bench after the first media time-out in the opening half, and scored her first points in a purple uniform at the 15:02 mark, posting up under the basket. She is a transfer from the University of Alabama, sitting out the first 10 games of the season due to the transfer rule, and made the most of her 24 minutes on the court as a Catamount.

For the team as whole, Western Carolina came out banging and shooting for the first 20 minutes of the game. Catamount junior guard Emily Clarke scored 14 of her game-leading 19 points in the first half. Tied at eight with 12:42 left, Kaila'Shea Menendez, ending the game with 12 points, hit a lay-up and was fouled to give the Catamounts a three-point lead, 11-8. Western Carolina led the remainder of the first half and was up by five, 30-25 at the break.

Up by seven points, after Heather Swayne hit a jumper to start the second half, Western Carolina watched its tenuous lead slip away as College of Charleston went on a 9-2 run to take the lead 34-32. Kristen Feemster hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 34.

Western Carolina continued to battle and took the lead one final time, 43-41 when Clarke hit a pair of free throws with 12:54 left. College of Charleston answered with a three-pointer by Brooke Kotcella to give the Cougars the lead for good.

The Catamounts committed 15 turnovers in the contest and College of Charleston converted them into 20 points. Western Carolina out-rebounded the Cougars 42-36 with 25 of them being defensive.

Western Carolina will break for Christmas and return to action on December 30 when it travels to Tallahassee, Florida to take on Florida State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.