Box Score |   

The Basics
Score: UNCG 88, Western Carolina 67
Records: Western Carolina 4-18, 0-7 SoCon, UNCG 9-14, 3-4 SoCon
Location: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee, N.C.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Despite draining 12 three-pointers, tying for the second most in a game, in school history, Western Carolina women's basketball could not keep up with visiting UNCG falling to the Spartans 88-67 Saturday in the Ramsey Center.

The Spartans shot a scorching 52.3 percent from the field, including hitting 10 three-pointers of their own, to outpace the Catamounts. Unlike in previous Southern Conference games this season, Western Carolina did not have a significant scoring drought in the game but just couldn't maintain a basket for basket foot race with the Spartans.

It was more of a slow and steady chipping away and daunting leads by UNCG that spoiled the Catamounts attempt to win a conference game in the first go around in league play. It was a five-point disparity in the first two periods that equated to a 10-point lead for the Spartans in the first half and seven and four-point differentials in the third and fourth period that equated to the Catamounts' 21-point loss to UNCG.

UNCG's Nadine Soliman put on a show from behind the arch going 7-for-7 from three-point land ending the game with a game-high 33 points. Western Carolina's Nikki Johnson led the Catamounts with 13 points tying her career-high.

Turning Point
Tied for the third time in the game, 21 all with 8:49 left in the second period, UNCG closed out the period on a 25-15 run, building a 10-point 46-36 lead, and never tied or trailed the Catamounts again.

Individual Leaders
- Johnson led the Catamounts with 13 points including hitting a pair of three-pointers and adding four assists.
- Julia Brown scored 10 first-half points to end with 10 points and also added a block and four rebounds. - Tess Harris had 11 points hitting three three-pointers in the game.
- Lauren LaPlant hit three treys as well and just missed scoring in double figures with nine points.
- Soliman had 33 of UNCG's 88 points and was one of three Spartans in double figures. Te'ja Twitty had 17 points and Brandi Fier had 13.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina had its second-best shooting performance in conference play at 41.8 percent but UNCG did the Catamounts one better shooting a white-hot 52.3 percent.
- The two teams combined for 22 three-pointers in the game - 12 for the Catamounts and 10 from the Spartans.
- Western Carolina had 16 turnovers in the game and the Spartans turned it into 19 points. Meanwhile, UNCG had just nine turnovers in the contest.
- UNCG just edged WCU in rebounding ripping down 36 to the Catamounts' 30.
- Western Carolina got 27 of its points off the bench.

News & Notes
- In the past two games, Western Carolina has hit 23 three-pointers, 11 against Warren Wilson and 12 against UNCG.
- The 12 three-pointers Western Carolina connected on against UNCG ties for the second-most made treys in a game in program history ... The record is 13 made against FIU on Dec. 20, 2014 ... It also ties for the most by a SoCon team this season along with Samford and Mercer who also hit 12 three-pointers in a game this year.
- Western Carolina went through the first round of conference play winless and is 0-7 in conference.
- Senior forward Sherae Bonner's block against UNCG moves her into second place in the WCU record books for blocks in a career with 131. She needs 13 to break the school record held by Shauna Terry who ended her career with 143. - For the second-straight game, all 11 Catamounts saw action on the court.
- Johnson tied her career-high with 13 points. Her five made field goals also tied her career-high.
- In the last two games, with all 11 Catamounts back for WCU after injuries, Western Carolina is averaging 90.5 points per game and shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 46.9 percent from behind the three-point arch ... WCU also has four players averaging in double figures in the last two games: Harris (14.0), Johnson (13.0), LaPlant (12.5) and Tembre Moates (10.5).

Up Next
Western Carolina will play a double-header with Catamount men's basketball starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 in the Ramsey Center. Both teams welcome Chattanooga with the men playing the Mocs at 7:30 p.m. Both games can be seen on ESPN3.

For the latest information on Catamount women's basketball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.For the latest information on Catamount women's basketball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.