Jan. 18, 2012

Box Score |    Video Highlights of Game vs. Elon

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -Western Carolina women's basketball (6-11, 1-7 Southern Conference) was nipped by Elon (9-9, 5-4 SoCon) 51-45 Wednesday in a noon game, at the Ramsey Center, as part of Education Day.

Over 700 area school children were in attendance at the game as part of Western Carolina Athletics annual "Education Day."

Western Carolina trailed from the first minute of the game until 9:14 left. Sophomore guard Rena Wakama was fouled, and her two free throws gave the Catamounts a 39-38 lead over the Phoenix. A three-pointer by freshman guard Makensey Campbellgave WCU the biggest lead of the game, 42-38, with 6:45 remaining.

After surging to the lead, Western Carolina went cold from the field. Elon went on a 9-0 run, capped off by a jumper by Shannen Cochran, to build a five point advantage, 47-42 with 3:37 left. Western Carolina broke a four minute scoring drought with a jumper by Alex Abraham, but Elon quickly answered off a lay-up by Aiesha Harper.

Down by four, 49-45, after Wakama hit one of two free throws, Western Carolina had its chances to cut in the Phoenix's four point lead. With 1:57 left, the Catamounts missed three straight scoring chances, in a 20 second span, before Elon got the ball back.

Still trailing by four, the Catamounts got a stop on Elon's end of the court, with 30 seconds remaining, but still failed to capitalize under its own basket. Elon iced the game when Kelsey Evans hit a pair of free throws with 25 seconds remaining.

Western Carolina tied its season-low in turnovers with seven, forcing Elon to cough up the ball 14 times. Ten of the 11 Catamounts who saw action scored in the game. Campbell led Western Carolina with nine points. Sophomore forward Shauna Terryhad three of the team's seven blocks in the contest.

The Catamount defense held Elon's leading scorer Ali Ford, who averages 15 points a game, to just four in the contest. Evans led the Phoenix with 14 points and Harper added 10.

Western Carolina begins a two-game Southern Conference road swing on Saturday facing Georgia Southern before squaring off against College of Charleston on Monday.