CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball wraps up the opening week of the 2023-24 regular season with a showdown on Thursday night against Radford out of the Big South Conference.
The matchup with the Highlanders is set for a 7 p.m. tip from Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center with the game to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Live streaming audio (free) from the Catamount Sports Network and live stats are also available at CatamountSports.com.
Matchup: Radford (1-0) vs. Western Carolina (1-0)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 9
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center (Cullowhee, N.C.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Catamount Sports Network
Twitter: @CatamountWBB
Western Carolina opened the 2023 season with a bang on Monday night totaling 101 points and cruising to a 101-27 win over visiting Agnes Scott in Cullowhee. Sophomore Reagan Trumm was one of five in double figures tallying a career-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting for WCU. Chelsea Wooten added 12 points in her WCU debut and Tyra Robinson poured in 11 in her collegiate debut. The double-figure scorers were rounded out by Lonasia Brewer and Tyja Beans both adding 10 for the Catamounts.
Thursday's contest marks the first of four matchups against the Big South that features four home games for WCU. After Thursday's action, WCU plays host to Presbyterian (Dec. 2), USC Upstate (Dec. 5) and mountain-rival UNC Asheville (Dec. 9) to round out the action with the Big South Conference.
On Monday, WCU filled up it's single-game record book with numerous Top 5-10 milestones including the 101 points, scored for just the seventh time in program history - and the first since 2018. The 21 steals against the Scotties marks the second-most in a game in school history and the most since 1996. The Catamounts connected on 41 field goals to represent the fifth most in a single-game for while the 23 assists put them in a tie for fifth in one contest.
Coming out of the mountain town of Radford, Va., the Highlanders posted a 14-17 record including a 9-9 mark in the Big South. Radford advanced to the second round of their conference tournament before falling to eventual champion Gardner-Webb.
Radford earned a 77-53 win in its season opener on Monday over Concord. The Highlanders were led by reigning Big South Freshman of the Year Ashlyn Traylor-Walker who had 15 points as Joi Williams added 14 off the bench. Terissa Lavoile-Brice added 10 points and 13 rebounds for Radford in the victory. Radford was tabbed to finish in a tie for second in the Big South led by Traylor-Walker who was selected preseason first-team all-conference.
WCU and Radford meet for the 13th time in program history on Thursday with the Highlanders leading the all-time series 8-4 as this marks the first head-to-head battle since 2017. WCU earned a 39-27 win in 2017 over Radford in Cullowhee.
Following Thursday's matchup in Cullowhee, the Catamounts embark on a four-game, nine-day road swing beginning on Monday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. CST against UAB from Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. The Blazers opened their 2023-24 season with a 70-63 win on Monday against Alabama A&M. The matchup with UAB will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available on CatamountSports.com.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's basketball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, Catamountwbb).
