Asheville, N.C. – Three Catamounts posted double-digit scoring efforts as Western Carolina rode a dominant first half that carried the Catamounts over mountain-rival UNC Asheville 77-64 on Saturday afternoon at Kimmel Arena in its final nonconference game of the season.

WCU earned its eighth victory of the season to snap a six-game skid in the head-to-head series with the Bulldogs, moving the Catamounts to 8-5 ahead of the Christmas holiday including a 5-4 mark on the road. The Bulldogs fell to 1-11 on the year, winless in six meetings with teams out of the Southern Conference.

Tyja Beans led the trio of Catamounts with double figures with 18 points and six rebounds, her fourth consecutive game with at least 14 points and five boards. Chelsea Wooten added a dozen points with a pair of 3-pointers to accompany two assists and two steals. AC Carter recorded double-digit scoring for the 11th time including her ninth-consecutive double-figure scoring game with 11.

Four Bulldogs scored in double-figures led by Lalmani Simmons with 18 points, tying Beans for the game high. Taylor Wilkins scored 14 points, joined by Abigail Wilson with 12 points and seven rebounds and Dakota McCaughan with 11 points and five assists.

Wooten opened the day for the Catamounts with a quick two as both teams traded shots through the game's first five minutes. The Catamounts managed a 10-4 lead going into the media timeout thanks to an even distribution of points from Wooten, Carter, Beans and Zanoria Cruz.  

Freshman Taj Hunter carried the Catamounts out of the stoppage, putting up six points in the final five of the break thanks to a deep three and a three-point play late in the frame. A late 7-2 spurt pushed WCU to a 21-15 lead to open the second quarter.  

Wooten quickly added to the Catamount lead, finding herself wide open on the wing to down her first 3-pointer. Wooten's shot got the ball rolling on a 13-0 Catamount run as WCU raced to a 34-17 lead in the second. The Bulldogs came to life late in the quarter, though, pacing the Catamounts who carried a 48-27 lead to the break.

As a team, WCU hit an impressive 66.7 percent of its shots in the second quarter, capitalizing on a 3-for-14 effort from the Bulldogs to build the lead.  

The Bulldogs carried their late first-half offensive momentum into the second, matching the Catamounts shot-for-shot as the WCU lead held strong with a 22-point advantage. Carter stretched the Catamount lead to as much as 27 before Asheville's Abigail Wilson cut it to as little as 19 before Wooten finished the third with a layup to put WCU back up by 21 points.  

Asheville did not bow out quietly in the final frame, outscoring the Catamounts down the stretch 22-14, including a 14-6 run to open the final 10 minutes of play. With the Catamount lead dwindling, Zanoria Cruz stepped up for WCU, notching three buckets late to record six of her eight points on the night. Cruz hit the last made shot of the night for the Catamounts with 2:09 to go and UNC Asheville's Abigail Wilson answered with a jumper with 1:47 left as neither team scored again for the 77-64 decision in favor of WCU.  

Catamount Notables: 

• The Catamounts picked up their eighth win of the season, the seventh coming against NCAA Division I competition;
• The 77-64 win snapped a six-game losing skid in the head-to-head series with UNC Asheville … the Catamounts lead the series 41-20; 
• The last three Catamount wins in Asheville have all been by 13 points (77-64 in 2024, 79-66 in 2014, 58-45 in 2012) ;
• The Catamounts are one of three teams in the SoCon to have eight wins through the nonconference slate – (Furman 9-5 and ETSU 8-6) ... WCU is currently second in the conference standings and is one of only two SoCon teams with a winning record on the road (WCU 5-4 and Furman 4-3);
• WCU shot 54% from the field in the win, its fifth game shooting 50% or better this season and its third consecutive game doing so; 
• The 77-64 win was head coach Jonathan Tsipis' 150th career win.

Up Next for The Catamounts: 

Western Carolina enjoys some time off for the holidays before returning to the hardwood on Monday, Dec. 30 to host the Southern Wesleyan Warriors. The Catamounts then face the Montreat Cavaliers on Jan. 2. Tip-off for both games is set for 2 p.m. and streamed online through ESPN+ (paid subscription required).

The Catamounts open Southern Conference play on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. as they host the defending SoCon champion Chattanooga Mocs in Cullowhee in a game that will be broadcast regionally through the league's Nexstar package and simulcast on ESPN+.