Feb. 20, 2010

Box Score |   

CULLWOHEE, N.C. - Sophomore Caitlin Hollifield scored 22 of Western Carolina women's basketball's (6-21, 5-13 SoCon) 42 points in the Catamount's 53-42 loss to Samford (20-8, 14-5 SoCon) on Senior Day Saturday. It was also Western Carolina's annual Pink Zone Game.

Hollifield's 22 points was a career-high for the forward from Knoxville, Tennessee. It was the second time in three games she has bested her career-high, as she had then career mark of 19 points against Elon on February 13. She scored 10 of her points from the free throw line, hitting a career-high 10 free throws, scoring 10 of her 22 points in the second half.

After giving up 12 three-pointers to Samford, and a total of 13 for the game, in the two clubs first meeting in Samford, on January 18, 2010, the Catamounts held the Bulldogs to a seasonal-low four three pointers in Saturday's meeting. The Bulldogs did not hit a three pointer in the first half, hitting all four in the final 20 minutes.

It was a tight contest in the first six minutes of the first half, and Western Carolina pulled ahead for a three-point lead off a lay-up by Hollifield. Back-to-back buckets by the Bulldogs' Savannah Hill gave Samford a one-point lead, 10-9, with 12:14 left.

Western Carolina took its last lead of the game when senior Jessica Jackson hit three-pointer for an 11-10 Catamount advantage. Samford took the lead for good when Hannah Dawson hit a lay-up to make the score 12-11 Bulldogs.

In the final 10 minutes of the first half, Western Carolina hit just two field goals, both by Hollifield. Samford outscored the Catamounts in that span 14-8.

Trailing 26-19 at the half, Hollifield alone got the Catamounts within two points of the Bulldogs in the first minute of the second half. She opened the second 20 minutes with a jumper in the first two minutes and then proceeded to block a shot by the Bulldog's Dawson and grabbing the rebound. Hollifield came down on Western Carolina's end of the court, hit a bucket, was fouled and hit her freebie at the charity stripe, to cut the Samford lead to two points, 26-24.

The two-point deficit would be the closest Western Carolina would get again in the game, as Samford proceeded to reel off 10 straight points to build a 36-26 lead in the next five minutes. In the second half, Western Carolina scored just four points in the paint and didn't have any points from players coming off the bench.

Western Carolina shot a chilly 27.1 points from the field in contrast to Samford's 41.8. The Catamounts were also outrebounded by the Bulldogs by nine, 39-30.

Prior to the game, seniors Kristen Feemster, Jessica Jackson and Heather Swayne were honored by the team and the Western Carolina athletic department.

The Catamounts will play its final home game of the season Monday, hosting rival Chattanooga. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.