Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Senior guard Justin Taylor recorded her first career double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as Western Carolina women's basketball (1-2) was edged by Presbyterian College (2-1) 51-44 Saturday in the Ramsey Center.

Taylor scored almost half of the Catamounts' points in the contest hitting eight field goals, three of them three pointers, and 8-of-17 from the field. On the glass, Taylor's 10 rebounds was a career-high with seven of them coming off the offensive glass.

It was a very tight contest with Western Carolina leading for most of the first half. Up by one, 13-12, with 8:04 left in the first, the Catamounts relinquished the lead when Elizabeth Landers hit lay-up giving the Blue Hose their first lead of the half. It was short-lived when WCU hit back-to-back field goals from Taylor and Emily Hatfield to make it 17-14.

Presbyterian re-took the lead in the final two minutes of the half with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer by Rebecca Walker. Trailing by three, 23-20, Western Carolina knotted the game before the half as senior Makensey Campbell nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

It was a see-saw game in the first minute of the second half with the Blue Hose breaking the 23 all tie with a free throw by Walker. The Catamounts got the lead back off a lay-up by Sherae Bonner. Presbyterian lead again, 25-26 thanks to a lay-up by Aianna Kelly and then went back to WCU off a lay-up by Brianne Mack.

With Western Carolina leading 27-26 early in the second half, a pair of free throws by Presbyterian's Landers gave the Blue Hose the tie and the lead, 28-27. WCU would tie it one more time, 28 all, when Taylor hit a free throw. Presbyterian answered with a jumper by Cortney Storey, 30-28, and the Blue Hose would never trail again. Presbyterian could never build a double digit lead on Western Carolina but did register its largest lead of nine points, 37-28, with 14:38 left.

With 7:10 remaining, Western Carolina trimmed the Presbyterian lead to two, 39-37 when Bonner hit a lay-up. It was the finale of a 5-0 run, which included a three-pointer by Taylor. Presbyterian got back up to a four-point lead off a jumper by Noelle Carter. Taylor trimmed it back to two for WCU when she hit a jumper - it was the closest the Catamounts would get in the game in the final five minutes.

Presbyterian just edged Western Carolina in rebounding, 38-36, and the Blue Hose had 26 offensive rebounds. The Catamounts hit six three pointers in the game but only went to the free throw line six times hitting two.

WCU shot 32.1 percent from the field while Presbyterian hit 39.2 percent. The Blue Hose also benefitted from 12 second-chance points.

Freshman Ace Easter was just shy of registering double figure scoring with eight points and also hit two three pointers. After back-to-back double-double performances Sherae Bonner was held to six points and six rebounds by Presbyterian.

Western Carolina completes its four-game home-stand Monday when it hosts Campbell. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. and fans can watch the game on the SoCon Digital Network or listen on the Catamount Sports Network.