Feb. 2, 2009

Box Score

STATESBORO, Ga. - Western Carolina women's basketball's comeback fell short as the Lady Catamounts (11-10, 7-6 SoCon) dropped a close contest to Georgia Southern (14-8, 9-4 SoCon), 67-62, Monday in Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Lady Catamounts had three players score in double figures, and made a fast and furious comeback late in the game, but the club was plagued by free throw woes. Western Carolina was 5-of-10 from the free throw line in the second half and 12-of-20 for the game.

Senior Lauren Powell led Western Carolina with 13 points and sophomore Emily Clarke followed with 12. Senior Brooke Johnson notched her third double-double in four games with 11 points and 11 rebounds; it was also her fourth straight game with double figure rebounds.

Trailing by six points (34-28) at the half, Western Carolina quickly found itself down by 14 points (51-37) in the first nine minutes of the game. The Lady Catamounts battled in the next eight minutes and went on a 17-3 run to trim the Eagle lead to one point, 55-54.

Western Carolina had a chance to tie or take the lead when Kristen Feemster was fouled with 3:31 left. She missed both free throws and Georgia Southern's Ashley Melson came down and hit a jumper to push the Eagle's lead back to three, 57-54.

Johnson cut the Eagle lead to one again, 57-56 with a jumper with 2:43 left but Georgia Southern again had an answer with a three-pointer by Jamie Navarro. Powell was fouled with 1:13 missing the front end of a one and one and Georgia Southern grabbed the rebound. It was one of five key missed free throws by Western Carolina during a stretch when Georgia Southern went five minutes without a field goal.

Trailing by five with 19 seconds remaining, Jessica Jackson hit a pair of free throws to cut the Eagles' lead to three, 63-60. Georgia Southern was 4-of-4 from the free throw line to close out the game and keep Western Carolina at bay ending the game 22-of-27.

Western Carolina shot 37.9 percent from the field while Georgia Southern shot 42.9 percent. The Lady Catamount won the rebounding battle 41 to 31 but committed 17 turnovers allowing the Eagles to 16 points off WCU miscues.

Western Carolina returns home Wednesday for a three-game home stand beginning with its final non-conference game of the season, hosting ACC foe Clemson. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.