Cullowhee, N.C. – The competition level ramps up on Thursday as the Western Carolina women's basketball team looks to carry some of its offensive momentum from Monday's season-opener into game two of the season as WCU hosts the Campbell Fighting Camels on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.
Both teams come into Thursday night's game 1-0 after picking up season-opening wins on Monday night. The Catamounts had a record-setting performance over Warren Wilson, downing the NCAA Division III Owls 119-36, while the Camels enjoyed a 72-29 victory over the Mt. Olive Trojans, an NCAA Division II representative.
Thursday's game will be livestreamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
Thursday's Women's Basketball Matchup:
Western Carolina (1-0) vs Campbell (1-0)
Nov. 7, 2024 | Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center | Cullowhee, N.C. | 6 p.m.
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/yzx5bwn4
Watch (ESPN+): https://tinyurl.com/4zthcbz2
Full Court Press:
The Catamounts and Camels have battled on the hardwood 24 times with the Catamounts trailing in the tight series, 11-13. The first six meetings in the series went the way of the Catamounts before the Camels earned their first win in the series, defending Buies Creek with a 94-74 win in 1982. The Purple and Gold responded with a 67-64 win in Cullowhee in 1983, before the series took a 17-year pause. Both teams traded road wins to open the 21st century before the Camels went on a 10-2 run in the series from 2011 to last year's 70-52 road loss for the Catamounts.
Both teams started off their 2024-25 seasons 1-0, picking up wins against non-Division I competition. The Catamounts tied the single-game points record in their win over Warren Wilson, lighting up the scoreboard for 119 points. Helping facilitate their first 119 point showing since a 1983 win over Berea College was a single-game record total of 30 steals that resulted in 49 points off turnovers. A little over 50 percent of the Catamounts' point total came off the bench (62 of 119 - 52%), while the Camel bench carried the day in their 72-27 win over Mt. Olive (51 of 72 - 71%).
Players to Watch:
All 12 Catamounts put up at least three points in Monday's dominating victory with six posting double figures. Tyja Beans led all scorers with her first career double-double, rattling off 18 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Jada Burton posted an efficient 7-for-7 shooting night for 14 points, while freshman Taj Hunter went for 15 in her Catamount debut. Chelsea Wooten was one of six Catamounts to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor and went for 15 points in the victory.
Campbell was led in its season-opening win by Emerson Thompson and Olivia Tucker, two of four Camels to score double figures on the night. Additionally, the Camels put up 51 rebounds as a team with Audrey Fuller racking up nine in the win. Jasmine Felton, Giani Boone, and Emerson Thompson were the only Camels to shoot better than 50 percent on the night, posting 4-of-8, 4-of-7, and 3-of-5 marks respectively.
Up Next for the Catamounts:
Following Thursday's home date, the Catamounts head out on their longest road stretch of the season as they face the Radford Highlanders on Sunday, Nov. 10 in their first of six straight games away from Cullowhee. WCU heads to Norman, Okla., to face the Sooners on November 13.
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).
