Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball is back on the road Saturday afternoon as the Catamounts face the Queens Royals in Charlotte. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Curry Arena as the Royals celebrate their Camper Appreciation Day and Ugly Sweater Game.
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) and live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
Saturday's Women's Basketball Matchup:
Western Carolina (6-4) vs Queens (5-4)
Dec. 14, 2024 | Curry Arena | Cullowhee, N.C. | 2:00 p.m.
Watch (ESPN+): https://tinyurl.com/symfabft
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/423djjzc
Full Court Press:
The Catamounts and Royals meet for the third season in a row and for the third time in program history. WCU claimed victories in the previous two meetings, earning a 68-59 win in Cullowhee in 2022 and a 69-63 decision last year in Charlotte.
The two teams have a pair of common opponents this season in USC Upstate and Presbyterian. Both teams went 2-0 against the Big South representatives though the Catamounts scored both wins on the road with a combined margin of victory of 58 while the Royals won by a combined 20 in its two road victories.
Queens is the second ASUN opponent of the season for the Catamounts, who enter Saturday's game after a five-point home overtime win over the West Georgia Wolves. The Catamounts held a 15-point lead going into the fourth quarter thanks to a 28-point third, but the Wolves pushed late and forced an extra period of play. The Catamounts are the only Southern Conference team on the Royals schedule this season and have been the only SoCon team to face the Royals since they moved to Division I in 2022.
Players to Watch:
Three Catamounts – Tyja Beans, Zanoria Cruz, and AC Carter – each posted double-digit points in the overtime victory over West Georgia. Cruz led the team with a 19-point effort while Beans collected her second career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Beans has been a force on the glass for the Catamounts this season, recording a team-high 88 rebounds so far including a career-best 16 against Gardner-Webb. No other Catamount has more than 60 boards this season as AC Carter is second on the team with 56. Beans, a sophomore from Daytona Beach, Fla., ranks second in the SoCon in rebounds per game (8.8) and offensive rebounds per game (4.4).
In their last outing against Queens, Nicole Azar and Jada Burton both recorded double-digit point efforts and five rebounds. Burton also contributed eight assists in the six-point win. Reagan Trumm is the only Catamount on the roster who saw action against the Royals in 2022, scoring five points in the seven-point win in Cullowhee.
The Royals are led by Jordyn Weaver, who is firing at a better than 50 percent clip to open the season. She's posted 117 points on 45 made shots this season. She also leads the team from the charity stripe this year, draining 25 free throws on 31 attempts. Additionally, the 2023 ASUN rebound leader is well on her way to a second-straight title, collecting a team-best total of 59 rebounds to date.
Ball State transfer Ana Barreto is second on the Queens' team in terms of offensive production as she averages 10.3 points per game. Barreto has done most of her damage from the perimeter, knocking down 20 3-pointers this season.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
The Catamounts remain on the road for their next two games as they face the Murray State Racers on Dec. 19 and the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on Dec. 21. Tip-off for those matchups is set for 6 p.m. CST / 7 p.m. EST and 4 p.m. EST, respectively. WCU returns home after the Christmas holiday to host the Southern Wesleyan Warriors on Dec. 30 and the Montreat Cavaliers to open the New Year on Jan. 2. Tip-off of the two home games is scheduled for 2 p.m.
