Jan. 16, 2011

Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball (6-11, 4-4 Southern Conference) extended its home winning streak to three with a 75-66 win over Furman (6-10, 2-5 SoCon) Sunday in the Ramsey Center.

The Catamounts were led by junior Caitlin Hollifield with 15 points who just missed a double double with nine rebounds. She was one of four Western Carolina players in double figures, followed by Kaila'Shea Menendez with 12 and Rena Wakama and Emily Clark, each with 11.

Furman led only once in the game, 3-2, at the 19:22 mark, when Wakama answered with a three-pointer and the Catamounts led the res t of the game. Western Carolina built its largest lead of the first half, by 13, 31-18, with 5:05 remaining. Furman cut the lead to eight off a pair of free throws by Janice Roberts but sophomore Janae' McKinney pushed the lead back to double digits with a jumper.

Western Carolina led 37-27 at the half, but Furman cut the Catamounts lead to just one points, 39-38, to start the second half thanks to a 9-2 run. Furman would keep the WCU lead to single digits for most of the second half, but the Catamounts seemed to hit a basket at just the right moment to keep Furman at bay.

The Catamounts' 75 points are the most points scored by the Catamounts since posting 78 against UNC Asheville on November 17, 2010. Western Carolina shot 47.5 percent from the field and out-rebounded Furman 39-28. Furman's Kaitlin Murphy led all scorers with 18 points. Murphy's teammate Kendra Berry added 16 points for the Paladins.

Freshman forward Shauna Terry extended her block streak, she has had at least one blocked shot in the last five games. In the game against Furman, Terry had five points, four rebounds and one steal.

Western Carolina returns to the road next weekend traveling to Chattanooga on Saturday, January 22, and Samford on Monday, January 24.