Jan. 9, 2010

Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Junior Emily Clarke scored 20 points, the third time this season she has logged 20 or more points, as Western Carolina dropped a 59-54 decision to Elon Saturday in the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts fall to 3-12 on the season and 2-4 in the Southern Conference will Elon improves to 6-9 and 2-5 SoCon.

Western Carolina built an 11 point lead in the first 12 minutes of the first half. The Catamounts did not score another field goal in the final eight minutes and it afforded Elon to go on a 13-1 run to take a 24-23 lead at the break.

The only scoring threat for Western Carolina, in the first half, was Clarke who had six of the Catamounts nine first-half field goals and hit three of its four three pointers. Clarke ended game with 20 points, four made three-pointers and five rebounds.

Sophomore Catilin Hollifield was another scoring bright spot for Western Carolina with a career-high 17 points. She also just missed a double-double with eight rebounds and also recorded one block.

Western Carolina trailed most of the second half, until 3:54 remaining in the game when Caitlin Hollifield hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 51. A steal by Jessica Jackson gave the ball back to the Catamounts, and after Hollifield was fouled, she hit one of two free throws to give WCU its first lead, 52-51 with 2:48 left.

Elon quickly answered when the Phoenix's Kelsey Evans was fouled and drained both free throws to give the lead back to Elon, 53-52. The back-and-forth continued as Catamount guard Kendra Carroll hit a jumper with 1:21 left to again give WCU the lead, 54-53.

In the final 1:21 of the game, Elon won the game at the free throw line as the Phoenix was 6-of-8 from the charity stripe to keep Western Carolina at bay. Western Carolina got just seven points from its bench in contrast to Elon's 20 points from its reserves. The Catamounts shot just 30.2 percent from the field and was outrebounded by Elon by two, 39-37.

The Catamounts begin a four-game road swing on Monday, January 11, traveling to UNC Greensboro. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.