Jan. 3, 2011

Box Score

Middleton Post-Game Comments (AUDIO)

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball (3-10, 1-3 SoCon) launched a flurried comeback, but fell short to visiting UNCG (7-5, 4-0 SoCon) 56-50 Monday in the Ramsey Center.

The Catamounts spent 19 minutes of the second half trying to overcome a 14 point, 34-20, halftime deficit to the Spartans. Trailing by five, 50-45, with 1:35 left in the game, junior Kaila'Shea Menendez hit a jumper to trim the UNCG lead to three, 50-47.

A turnover by the Spartans' Janae' Stevenson gave Western Carolina a chance to pull within one or tie it but Kendra Carroll had a turnover. UNCG's Dayshaun Richbow got the steal, converting it to a lay-up and was fouled, hitting a three point play with a free throw, to push the UNCG lead to six, 53-47.

Senior guard Emily Clarke trimmed the UNCG lead back to three with the second of two three pointers in the game. The Spartans, however, were 3-of-4 from the free throw, in the final 34 seconds, to ice the game.

Western Carolina was led by Menendez who had 13 points and three steals in the contest. Redshirt sophomore Janae' McKinney recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Caitlin Hollifield just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Clarke got her first start of the season ending the contest with eight points, including 2-of-5 from behind the three point arch. Freshman Shauna Terry tied her career-high with two blocks in the game and also added six points.

The Catamounts outscored UNCG 30-22 in the second half and was 35.7 percent from the field and 7-of-11 from the free throw line. UNCG won the rebounding battle 56-50 and scored 26 points in the paint. The Spartans shot 41.1 percent from the field and Amanda Leigh led all scorers with 14 points.

Western Carolina will play its second of four home games in seven days, hosting Davidson on Wednesday. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.