Cullowhee, N.C. -- The Catamount women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in 2024-25 as Western Carolina faces the Radford Highlanders on Sunday afternoon. WCU is 2-0 after picking up come from behind win over the Campbell Camels in Cullowhee last Thursday while the Highlanders are 1-1 after a season-opening loss to #11 Duke and a win 66-55 win over Hampton.
Sunday's Women's Basketball Matchup:
Western Carolina (2-0) vs Radford (1-1)
Nov. 10, 2024 | Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center | Radford, Va. | 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats:
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Watch (ESPN+):
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Full Court Press:
Radford and WCU meet for the 14th time in program history, with the Highlanders holding a 10-3 edge in the series. The Catamounts won the first meeting in 1973, doubling up the Highlanders in a 56-28 victory. The Highlanders have taken five of the seven meetings since 2001, though the Catamounts won a 37-29 battle in Cullowhee in 2017. The series went on a five-year hiatus, before last year's 67-49 bout which went Radford's way.
Chelsea Wooten led the Catamounts with 21 points last season thanks to an 8/16 shooting performance. Wooten also collected five steals while
Jada Burton chipped in six assists.
Both teams come into Sunday's match up fresh off home wins, though the Catamounts carry a 2-0 record into the meeting. The Purple and Gold have been efficient in their two wins this season, shooting 50% (70/140) from the floor and 41% (20/49) from beyond the arc. Radford relied on turnovers in their win over Hampton, with 26 of their points coming off 21 Pirate turnovers. Hampton was productive inside against the Highlanders, with 40 of their 55 points coming in the paint.
Players to Watch:
Kehinde Obasuyi and
AC Carter exploded in the match-up with Campbell, posting career highs in points with 24 and 22, respectively. The duo combined with
Grace Pack for 14 of the Catamounts' final 15 points, with Pack knocking down a pair of free throws with 10 seconds to go to put WCU up by one. Sophomore
Tyja Beans has been a force on the boards for the Catamounts early, collecting 22 (14 OR, 8 DR) rebounds in her two games this season. The Daytona Beach, Fla. Product is currently 12th in the nation in total rebounds. She added three steals and three assists in the win over the Camels as well.
Additionally,
Jada Burton has been efficient to start the season for the Catamounts as she's one of four players in the nation with to make at least 73% of her 15 shot attempts this season.
A quartet of Highlanders posted double-digit points in the win over Hampton, though Joi Williams led Radford with 13. The sophomore guard went 4/7 from the field with a three-pointer and a 4/5 mark from the charity stripe. Makayla Firebaugh leads Radford in shots this season, going 5/19 in her two games so far. Cate Carlson is the only Highlander with double-digit rebounds on the season with 10 (10 DR) but also leads the team with 11 turnovers.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU stays on the road for their next five games with a trip to Norman, Okla. to face the top ten Oklahoma Sooners on deck. They will host the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs on December 6 for their next home game.
