Jan. 22, 2011

Box Score

Middleton Post-Game Comments (AUDIO)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Junior Caitlin Hollifield notched a double-double, 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, in Western Carolina women's basketball's (6-12, 4-5 Southern Conference) 71-55 loss to Chattanooga (9-11, 6-5 SoCon) Saturday in The McKenzie Arena.

Hollifield scored 13 of her 18 points in the first half. Teammate Kaila'Shea Menendez ended the game with 15 points. It is the fourth straight game Menendez has scored in double figures.

Chattanooga hit nine three pointers in the game, seven in the first half, to build an early first half lead that it never relinquished and also shot 46.8 percent from the field. The Catamounts hit three 3 pointers and shot 36.1 percent.

Trailing by 10 points, with 1:59 left to go in the first half, Western Carolina went on a 5-1 run to only trail by six, 38-32, at the half.

Although the Catamounts held Chattanooga to just two three pointers in the second half, Western Carolina was pounded inside by the Mocs Whitney Hood. She scored 14 of her 20 points, in the game, in the second half.

Chattanooga out-scored Western Carolina by 10 points in the second half. The Mocs built as much as a 14 point lead with 17 minutes left in the game. Western Carolina cut the Mocs lead to single digits four times, the last thanks to a lay-up by Alex Abraham, 64-55, with 5:23 left. WCU didn't score in the final five minutes of the game.

Western Carolina was out-rebounded 40 to 36 in the game. Both teams had 28 points in the paint, but the Mocs got 18 points off of Western Carolina turnovers.

The Catamounts continue its two-game road swing at Samford on Monday. Tip time is set for 8 p.m.