Jan. 29, 2011

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball (6-14, 4-7 Southern Conference) fell to visiting Elon (15-6, 9-3 SoCon) 76-49 Saturday in the Ramsey Center, during the Catamounts' Pink Zone Game.

The defeat halts a three-game home winning streak for the Catamounts. The loss assured a seasonal conference tie between Elon and Western Carolina, as the Catamounts won the two team's earlier meeting in December, 74-64.

Elon scored the first six points to start the game. Western Carolina junior guard Kaila'Shea Menendez answered back, scoring five straight points, to allow the Catamounts to trail by one point, 6-5. The one point deficit was the closest Western Carolina would get to Elon the rest of the game.

Western Carolina hit just four field goals on the first half and shot only 13.8 percent from the field. The Catamounts trailed 38-19 at the half. The 19 first half points was the third lowest, for a first half, by the Catamounts this season.

The Catamounts came back and hit seven field goals in the second half, for a total of 11 in the game. The 11 field goals tie a seasonal low as the Catamounts also had just 11 against James Madison on December 30. For the game, WCU shot 20.4 percent from the field.

Western Carolina scored 26 of its 49 points at the free throw line. Freshman guard Rena Wakama connected on a career-high eight free throws, 8-of-9 overall, and led the team with a career best 15 points.

Elon's Kelsey Evans had a double-double in the game, 24 points and 15 rebounds, to lead the Phoenix. Ali Ford added 17 and Julie Taylor had 10.

Western Carolina hosts rival Appalachian State at noon on Monday as part of Education Day.