Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball closed out the first Catamount doubleheader of the season on Sunday afternoon against historic opposition, as the SEC's sixth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners – the highest-ranked opponent in program history to visit Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center – claimed the 95-32 win.
The Catamounts (2-2) turn their attention to a second straight doubleheader as they host UNC Asheville (2-1) on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in a true twinbill with the Catamount men's team facing the Bulldogs in the nightcap. On a three-game win streak, the Sooners (4-1) look to extend that run as they host East Texas A&M on Nov. 19.
Taj Hunter led the Catamounts in scoring with 12 points on a steady 5-of-10 shooting performance, with Ally Hollifield scoring 10 points. Freshman Justice Zimmerman made the first start of her collegiate career and led the Catamounts with five rebounds against the larger Sooner front court, while Kehinde Obasuyi dished out a pair of assists to accompany her four points.
Oklahoma was led by the double-double effort of post Raegan Beers with 21 points and 10 rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Aaliyah Chavez with 19 points, matching Beers with seven made field goals. Chavez added a game-high five assists and was tied for the team lead in steals at three with Caya Smith and Keziah Lofton as the Sooners came away with the 95-32 victory.
How it Happened:
Western Carolina managed to hang around the Top 10 Sooners through the opening moments as Beers scored first for the Sooners with a layup in the opening minute for the 2-0 advantage. WCU pulled within one early following the first made three of the evening by Ally Hollifield, but Chavez responded with the first Sooner long-ball of the night to give OU an 11-5 lead going into the first quarter media timeout.
Oklahoma then closed the opening 10-minute segment with an 8-0 run to claim a 19-5 advantage heading into the second quarter. Taj Hunter snapped the Sooner scoring run with a made 3-pointer early, and added on a second make before Oklahoma powered to a commanding 40-17 lead to end the half.
Kehinde Obasuyi recorded her first points of the evening in the third quarter, breaking up OU's scoring run, but a 28-point third quarter provided the Sooners a 41-point lead going into the final 10-minute segment. Oklahoma opened the final frame on a 16-2 run, before Betsey Burnett hit a 3-pointer in the final minute as the sixth-ranked team lived up to its billing with the 95-32 win.
By the Numbers:
The Sooners leveraged their size and strength inside against the Catamounts, with 54 of their 95 points coming from inside the paint. Additionally, the Catamounts were outrebounded 54-22, held to just three offensive boards – two by Joyce Mulumba and one by Riley Price that led to two of WCU's three second-chance points. Justice Zimmerman and Taj Hunter combined for nine of WCU's 22 rebounds, with Hollifield contributing three defensive boards as well.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
The Catamounts remain at home as they host mountain-rival UNC Asheville for a 5 p.m. tip on Nov. 19, in the front end of the WCU doubleheader with the men's team who also faces the Bulldogs beginning at 7:30 p.m. WCU then hits the road to battle the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Nov. 23 before facing the West Georgia Wolves on Nov. 25.
