Box Score |   

The Basics
Score: Chattanooga 58, Western Carolina 41
Records: Western Carolina 4-19, 0-8 SoCon, Chattanooga 14-8, 5-3 SoCon
Location: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee, N.C.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Senior Sherae Bonner posted her fifth double-double of the season, 10 points and 11 rebounds, in Western Carolina women's basketball's 58-41 loss to Chattanooga Thursday in the Ramsey Center.

Ice cold shooting the opening pair of periods, in which the Catamounts scored just 14 points and shot a frigid 23 percent from the field, spelled disaster for WCU. Western Carolina trailed by only 13 at the half, 27-14, and even went on a mini-run in the third period but couldn't find that defining scoring run to cut into Chattanooga's lead.

Trailing by as much as 19 in the third period, Western Carolina did find a spark going on a 9-0 run to slice Chattanooga's lead to 10, 33-23, with 2:45 left in the period. Judith Martin Ruiz scored seven of the Catamounts nine point in the run. However, Chattanooga answered by outscored WCU 8-0 in the final two minutes of the period and all but iced the game.

Martin Ruiz led WCU with 12 points, scoring eight of her 12 points in the third period. Julia Brown just missed scoring in double figures with eight points. Chattanooga's Keiana Gilbert led all scorers with 16.

Turning Point
Western Carolina scored just 14 points in the first half, including only six in the second period, allowing Chattanooga to build a lead they would never relinquish.

Individual Leaders
- Bonner put together a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds and was 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
- Martin Ruiz led the Catamounts with 12 points hitting a pair of three-pointers in the game.
- Brown was the only other player close to double-figure scoring with eight points.
- Chattanooga's Gilbert led all scorers with 16 points and Arianne Whitaker followed with 15. Brooke Burns ripped down 10 rebounds.

Inside the Box Score
- For the game, Western Carolina shot a frosty 27.6 percent from the field. Chattanooga more than doubled the Catamounts' shooting percentage to 45.3 percent.
- Chattanooga shot seven three-pointers in the game while WCU hit just three.
- Western Carolina dominated the boards ripping down 44 rebounds to Chattanooga's 30.
- There were only 15 free throws shot in the game between the two teams, with WCU going to the line 10 times and Chattanooga five.
- Western Carolina committed 15 turnovers in the game with Chattanooga getting 15 points off Catamount turnovers.

News & Notes
- With the loss, Western Carolina has now lost 18 straight to Chattanooga.
- The Catamounts remain winless in the Southern Conference.
- With 11 rebounds against Chattanooga, Bonner now has 827 in her career continuing to rank her in seventh place. She needs 14 rebounds to move into seventh.
- With Lauren LaPlant's three-pointer in the game she extends her streak to five consecutive games she has hit at least one trey in a game.
- Martin's Ruiz's 14 points against Chattanooga is the first time in five games.
- Western Carolina has hit 26 of its 119 points this season in the last three games.
- With one blocked shot in the game, Bonner continues to chip away at the Catamount record for blocks. She currently has 132 and needs 11 to take over the top spot held by former Catamount Shauna Terry who ended her career with 143.

Up Next
Western Carolina hosts ETSU at 5 p.m. Saturday, in the Ramsey Center, as part of a doubleheader with men's basketball. Catamount men's basketball hosts Samford 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.