Atlanta, Ga. – Western Carolina women's basketball overcame a 20-point second-quarter deficit to take leads in the second half, but were unable to complete the comeback bid as Georgia Southern closed Tuesday evening's game from the free throw line in claiming the 68-64 decision from the GSU Convocation Center.
WCU moves to 4-2 on the season while the Panthers advance to 3-2 on the year.
Zanoria Cruz led four Catamounts in double figures with 13 points with AC Carter and Tyja Beans both finishing with 11 points apiece. Kehinde Obasuyi – playing against her sister, Eghosa Obasuyi for Georgia State – chipped in 10 points including a pair of 3-pointers. The Catamounts had at least three double-digit scorers for the fourth time this season with four reaching double figures in a second-consecutive game.
AC Carter led the charge for the Catamounts on the glass, picking up eight rebounds with Beans and Jada Burton collecting six apiece. Additionally, Burton distributed eight assists and blocked a career-high three shots in a team-leading 36 minutes of play.
The night started heavily in the favor of the home team as Georgia State leapt out to a 20-point lead with four minutes to go in the first half. From that point on, though, the half belonged to the Catamounts as Grace Pack hit on a layup to kickstart a 12-2 Catamount run to close out the first 20 minutes of play.
Jada Burton followed Pack's made bucket with her second block of the night allowing AC Carter to collect the rebound and put the Purple and Gold back on the attack. Freshman Taj Hunter made the most of her homecoming in the moment, draining a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 15. Burton took command once again, forcing a turnover by Georgia State's Monna Julnken and doing it all herself for a quick layup.
With momentum swinging in WCU's favor, Georgia State called a timeout with 2:04 left in the half. GSU's Mikyla Tolivert couldn't connect on a jumper out of the stoppage. AC Carter drained a 3-pointer and Tyja Beans made the last bucket of the half as the home team took a 10-point lead into halftime, 36-26.
The Catamounts came into the third quarter hot, outscoring the Panthers 22-13 with Chelsea Wooten hitting a quick 3-pointer just 10 seconds into the frame. WCU rolled to a 14-to-4 run with Carter tying the game at 40 with 5:18 left in the third. Jada Burton gave the Catamounts their first lead since the 6:58 mark in the first quarter as WCU took a 44-42 edge over the Panthers. The two teams traded the lead back and forth before Georgia State capitalized on late free throws to take a one-point advantage into the final period of play.
Obasuyi handed the Catamounts a 50-49 lead to open the quarter as her family watched in the crowd with Beans chipping in a putback layup on her own missed shot to stretch the WCU lead to three. Georgia State's Mya Williams responded with a long range three to knot it at 52 all before Jada Burton responded with a quick jumper to put WCU back up. Georgia State answered with a 9-0 run in front of the home crowd to take a six-point lead with 4:40 to go. The Catamounts slowly whittled the deficit down with free throws by Obasuyi and Carter before a Beans layup brought WCU within one in the final minute of play.
Georgia State standout Crystal Henderson's layup went into the waiting arms of Chelsea Wooten as the Catamounts took over with 24 seconds left on the clock down by one. On the ensuing possession with the shot clock dwindling, Beans saw an opportunity to connect with a waiting Obasuyi on the left wing. Unfortunately, Tolvert intercepted the pass as the Panthers forced the turnover with six seconds to go. Georgia State went on to hit three of their last four free throws to secure the 68-64 decision.
Catamount Notables:
·Trailing at the half, the Catamounts shot 56% from the field in the third quarter ... WCU has shot at least 45% from the floor in the third quarter in four of its six games this season and 50% or better in the third period of play in three of six ... the Catamounts are outscoring opponents 125-100 in the third;
·WCU had four Catamounts record double-digit points for the second-consecutive game and had at least three score 10+ for the fourth time this season;
·The Catamounts have had 35+ rebounds as a team in five of their six games this season;
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Western Carolina stays on the road to take on the Presbyterian Blue Hose at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. The Catamounts then head to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Lady Vols on Tuesday, Nov. 26 for a 7 p.m. tip. WCU's next home games are Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 against Gardner-Webb and the West Georgia Wolves.
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).
