Cullowhee, N.C. – Southern Conference leading scorer AC Carter led four Catamounts in double figures on Thursday night with a career-high 26 points in a thrilling double-overtime league meeting against Samford on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. However, six-straight points to open the second extra frame handed the visiting Bulldogs a lead they would never relinquish over the five-minute segment to down Western Carolina 90-86 in double-overtime.

Carter hit a late-game jumper for two of her career-high 26 points to knot the game at 71 inside the closing minute before the Catamounts thwarted Samford's final offensive opportunity in regulation to force overtime. The two teams went toe-to-toe with eight points apiece in the first five-minute period as WCU was unable to build upon a four-point lead with possession of the basketball before the Bulldogs rallied back.

Tyja Beans seemingly gave WCU its best chance to earn the OT win with a bucket in the paint with 12 ticks remaining. However, Sierra Godbolt took the ensuing inbounds play coast-to-coast just seconds later with her fastbreak tally tying the game at 79 and forcing the second session.

Three empty trips including a pair of missed shots, and a turnover allowed Samford to grab a six-point edge it carried to the road victory, just its second away from Birmingham this season and a second league win.

The Catamounts received strong offensive performances across the board. Carter hit eight field goals and sank 10-of-11 from the free throw line for her third 20-point scoring performance of the season – and her second coming within the past three games. Beans shook off first-half struggles to record 18 points, her best performance against a SoCon team, with nine rebounds – eight coming after halftime. Jada Burton likewise just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine assists in the 50-minute affair, and Grace Pack chipped in 11 points off the bench for her second straight double-digit scoring effort.

Samford freshman Claire Johnson scored a career-high 26 points to match Carter with five of her six made field goals from behind the arc while adding 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Johnson was joined in double figures by three teammates as Kennedy Langham scored 16 and Alonya Waldon added 12 including leading the Bulldogs early. Sierra Godbolt scored five of her 11 points in the second overtime to round out Samford's double-digit scorers.

Thursday's play began with a flurry of made shots in the first minute of play as both teams earned a quick four points before Samford's Waldon created some space for the Bulldogs with a layup to get a 6-4 lead. Aubrey Blankenship punctuated the early Samford run with a 3-pointer in transition to put the Bulldogs up 10-4 before Zanoria Cruz – who finished with seven points – broke up the run with a layup. A jumper from Grace Pack cut the deficit to two, but Samford went on a 9-4 run to take a 19-12 lead before concluding the first at 21-14.

Langham opened the second quarter with a layup to give Samford its largest lead of the game at nine – but the Catamounts responded with an explosive 10-0 run over the next 90 seconds to take a 24-23 lead. With the game back within a single possession, the lead bounced back and forth with neither squad leading by more than three for the rest of the half. WCU (11-10, 1-5 SoCon) closed the opening 20 by scoring five of the final seven as both teams locked down defensively for a scoreless final minute of play, sending the Catamounts to the half leading 35-33.  

Cruz built WCU's lead to as many as four in the third quarter, opening the second half with a pair of free throws. Neither team was able to create much separation, though, as the game swung within a one-to-two possession contest. Samford went on a brief 6-0 sprint to take a 51-45 lead with 4:30 left in the quarter, but the Catamounts steadily chipped away at the deficit before going into the fourth quarter down, 54-51.  

The two SoCon foes again traded the fourth-quarter advantage back and forth. Emily Bowman, who returned from a hand injury for her first game in 2025, put the Catamounts down four with a just over a minute to play. However, Bowman sent Beans to the free throw line with 60 seconds to go. Beans hit her first shot to make it a one-possession game again before missing her second shot, Cruz corralled the critical rebound and send it back to Beans, who converted inside to make it a 70-69 game in Samford's favor. Langham went 1-of-2 at the free throw line with 30 seconds left, before AC Carter hit the game-tying shot with 20 seconds showing on the game clock. Samford opted to drain the clock before launching a late shot off-target, sending the game to overtime.  

Jada Burton carried the momentum for the Catamounts, earning the first bucket of the extra period to put WCU up 73-71. Sierra Godbolt tied it again before Tyja Beans and AC Carter put the Catamounts up 77-73, tying their largest lead of the night with 3:30 to go. A pair of empty WCU possessions gave the Bulldogs an opportunity to tie the game, which they did on two made free throws from Sadie Stetson. Beans gave WCU a two-point lead with 12 seconds to go, but Godbolt went coast to coast to tie it up again and send it to a second overtime.  

Samford (7-15, 2-4 SoCon) opened the second overtime period on a 6-0 run, taking control early. The Catamounts trimmed the deficit to four three separate times in the final period but were unable to close the game as Samford took the 90-86 victory.  

Catamount Notables: 

• The Catamounts are now 1-1 in overtime games this season, with both bonus basketball games coming in the Ramsey Center … WCU previously defeated West Georgia 81-76 in the non-conference schedule … Samford improved to 2-1 in extra-session games;
• WCU recovered well from their previous overtime game, taking down the Queens Royals 82-66 following the overtime win against West Georgia;
• AC Carter went for a career-high 26 points in the 90-86 loss, scoring 10 from the free throw line;
• Tyja Beans recorded 18 points, the most against a Southern Conference foe in her career … the bulk of her work came after halftime; 
• Three Catamounts nearly posted double-doubles in the loss – AC Carter, Tyja Beans, and Jada Burton all recorded double-figure points – Carter and Beans both finished with nine rebounds apiece while Burton dished out nine assists ... Additionally, Chelsea Wooten posted eight points and eight rebounds in the home defeat. 

Up Next for The Catamounts: 

Western Carolina remains at home to wrap-up a three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon for a busy promotional day in the frontend of a Catamount hoops doubleheader. WCU looks to Pack the RAC and celebrate Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on EBCI Day. Additionally, fans are encouraged to wear pink as the Catamounts open National Cancer Prevention Month against the Mercer Bears. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. with the men's team hosting the VMI Keydets at 3:30 p.m.