Jan. 16, 2010

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - With .09 seconds left on the clock, Chattanooga's Shanara Hollinquest drained a pair of free throws to give the Mocs at 68-66 lead, dashing Western Carolina women's basketball's hopes of an upset in The McKenzie Arena Saturday. The Catamounts fall to 3-14 and 2-6 in the Southern Conference while the Mocs improve to 13-6 and 8-2.

Emily Clarke was stellar on the court, leading all scorers with 22 points. It is the fourth time this season Clarke has scored 20 or more points and the ninth time in the last 10 games she has led the team in scoring.

The noon game proved to be a wild and wooly shoot-out between the teams, as the game went back and forth, in scoring, more then a teeter-totter. With 7:08 left in the second half, Chattanooga built its largest lead of the game, seven points (60-53) after Jenaya Wade-Fray hit a lay-up.

It looked like the Mocs had all the momentum, but Clarke started the Catamounts own wave of momentum when she drained a three-pointer to cut the Chattanooga lead to three, 60-56. The trey by Clarke started a 7-0 run by the Catamounts to tie the game at 60 with 5:54 left.

Wade-Fray struck again to end the Chattanooga scoring drought and give the lead back to the Mocs 62-60. Clarke answered with a jumper for the seventh tie of the game with 5:10 left.

Kendra Carroll drained a 15 foot jumper to give Western Carolina the lead, 64-62, with 4:31 left. The Catamounts built a four-point advantage, 66-62, when Caitlin Hollifield drained a pair of free throws. Chattanooga cut the Catamount lead to one point, 66-65 when Hollinquest hit a lay-up and was fouled, hitting her free throw.

Western Carolina had a chance to take a three-point advantage when sophomore Kaila'Shea Menendez drove into the lane for a lay-up, the ball dipped into the inside iron of the rim only to circle out. Menendez went up for the rebound and fouled Kayla Christopher, who hit one of two free throws with 57 seconds left, to tie the game at 66.

Hollifield took a shot with 32 second left, with the chance to give Western Carolina the lead, but the ball bounced off the rim and Hollinquest ripped down the rebound. Wade-Fray went up for a jumper with one second remaining, but missed. Hollinquest grabbed the rebound and was fouled - setting up the two free throws that won the game for the Mocs.

The Catamounts held onto a 36-35 lead at the half. Chattanooga hit just three field goals in the final nine minutes of the first half, but was able to stay in the game going 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Western Carolina also couldn't seem to convert from the Mocs scoring woes, as the Catamounts hit only six field goals in that nine minute stretch.

Western Carolina's seven turnovers, in the game, is the second lowest turnover mark for the Catamounts this season. The club shot 41.9 percent from the field and was outrebounded by Chattanooga 42-35.

The Catamounts had two other players pour in double figures for the club. Menendez came off the bench to add 13 points and Carroll had 10.

Monday, Western Carolina will continue its four-game road swing playing at Samford. Tip time is set for 8 p.m. Eastern.