Dec. 4, 2010

Box Score |     Middleton Post-Game Comments (AUDIO)

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Redshirt sophomore Diamond Hunnicutt led all scorers with a career-high 13 points in Western Carolina women's basketball's (1-5) 68-48 loss to No. 14 Florida State (7-1) Saturday in the Ramsey Center.

Playing its second ranked team in three games, falling to then No. 14 North Carolina 93-36 on November 21, Western Carolina hung tough for most of the contest against the Top-25 Seminoles. Hunnicutt was spurred on with the chance to face her sister Christian, a senior guard for FSU. The elder Hunnicutt, Christian, ended the contest with eight points and four assists.

In the middle of the second half, Western Carolina still had Florida State on its heels. With 9:31 left in the game, Hunnicutt was fouled from behind the three point line and hit 2-of-3 free throws to pull the Catamounts within four points, 50-46.

Western Carolina looked posed to make a run at Florida State. In a five minute span, from the 9:14 mark until 4:37 left in the game, Florida State was held to just three field goals. The Catamounts had their chances, trotting to the free throw line eight times, but couldn't capitalize, going 0-9 from the charity stripe.

In the final four minutes, Florida State went on a 10-2 run to blow the game open.

Western Carolina tied the game, with 9:58 left in the first half. Junior forward Caitlin Hollifield scored two of her eight points to knot the game at 15. The Seminoles' Alexa Deluzio, who led the Seminoles with 12 points, answered with a layup to give Florida State the lead again.

The Catamounts would tie the game two more times, the final one with 5:29 left in the half. Emily Clarke connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key, off an assist by Kendra Carroll, to make the score 24 all. Florida State answered yet again with a layup by Cierra Bravard and the Seminoles would never tie or trail the rest of the game.

Redshirt sophomore Janae' McKinney was solid on the boards for Western Carolina ripping down a game-leading eight rebounds. Overall, Western Carolina was out rebounded by Florida State 42-34. Western Carolina committed 16 turnovers but forced Florida State to cough it up 18. The Catamounts scored 26 of their 48 points in the paint and picked up 14 on second chance points.

The Catamounts close out their three-game home stand by hosting Charlotte on Wednesday. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.