Jan. 27, 2014

Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Davidson survived a scare by Western Carolina women's basketball escaping the Ramsey Center with a 69-65 victory Monday during a noon "Education Day" game with over 900 area school children in attendance.

Trailing by four, 26-22 at the half, the Wildcats (10-10, 7-2 Southern Conference) outscored the Catamounts (9-11, 3-6 SoCon) 47-39 in the second half to secure the win. The key to the game was the five three-pointers, shooting 71.4 percent, Davidson hit in the second half after going 0-for-10 from the behind the three-point line in the first half.

Western Carolina expanded its four point halftime lead to nine, 37-25, in the first four minutes of the game, thanks to an 11-6 run with 16:36 left. Davidson fired back with an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the second half, 37-38.

A three-pointer by Makensey Campbell spurred eight straight points by the junior from Kingsport, Tenn. In that two minute stretch, Davidson and Western Carolina traded buckets with the Catamounts enjoying an 8-4 run. Dakota Dukes lay-up cut the WCU lead back to one but Western Carolina continued to battle with field goals by Kristen Lyon and Erika Joseph to push its lead back to 49-44.

Western Carolina clung to the lead until 7:28 left when a three-pointer by Laura Murray gave Davidson the lead back 52-51. The Catamounts would tie the game for the seventh time in the game on 1-of-2 free throws by Lyon to make the score 52 all with 5:53 left.

Shneeka Center's lay-up helped Davidson reclaim the lead and the Wildcats never trailed again. Davidson may have kept the lead through the final two minutes of the game by Western Carolina didn't go quietly into the night.

Lyon kept Western Carolina in the game in the in the final minute as she hit back-to-back field goals. The Catamounts couldn't get an edge in the final minute of the game as the Wildcats went 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

Sophomore guard Lindsay Simpson made the game interesting when she drained a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to make the score 67-65. Alex Long was fouled and drained both of her free throws to ice the game.

Western Carolina had three players score in double figures paced by junior guard Justin Taylor with 12 points. Campbell and Lyon added 10 points. Davidson's Murray led all scorers with 18 points and was one of four Wildcats to post double figures. Center had 17, Hannah Early had 12 and Dukes added 11.

Davidson shot just 39.7 percent from the field but was a scorching 56 percent in the second half to allow it to secure the win. After struggling in the second half over the last few games, Western Carolina put together a balanced first and second half and shot 41.5 percent in the second half.

The Catamounts won the rebounding battle pulling down 43 boards to Davidson's 40. The Catamounts held the Wildcats to 13 offensive boards.

Western Carolina will play its third straight home game hosting Furman at 2 p.m. Saturday.