Winston-Salem, N.C. – Despite a furious fourth-quarter rally and strong individual efforts by Ary Dizon and Ally Hollifield, the Western Carolina women's basketball team fell on the road at Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon, 60-49.
Hollifield led all scorers with 17 points, including five made 3-pointers, to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. Dizon recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebound, her first as a Catamount. Taj Hunter also recorded 10 points and five boards, while freshman Tina Bowers dished out a career-high six assists in her first career collegiate start.
Wake Forest was led by Grace Carter and Mary Oliver, both recording 13 points for the Demon Deacons. Carter also led the team in rebounding with seven boards, though she was one of five to record at least four for Wake Forest.
How it Happened:
The Catamounts and Demon Deacons went back and forth in the first quarter, seeing six lead changes as the two squads exchanged blows. Taj Hunter connected on a 3-pointer in the fourth minute to give WCU a 13-12 lead before Wake Forest went on a 7-2 run to close the quarter with a 19-15 lead.
Wake opened the second quarter hot, outscoring the Catamounts 9-0 until Hunter broke the scoring run with a layup to make it a 28-17 game. Neither team enjoyed great offensive success to finish the frame, though the home team carried a 35-21 advantage into the locker room.
Milan Brown and Mary Carter posted five quick points for Wake Forest to open the second half, before Ary Dizon responded with four points to stem the offensive surge. Wake's lead grew to as much as 20 before Ally Hollifield cut it back to 17 with a triple in the final seconds of the third.
WCU outpaced Wake Forest for much of the final 10-minute period, winning the quarter 18-12 thanks in large part to a 7-0 run following an initial bucket by the Deacs. Grace Pack, who made her season debut against the ACC foe, cut the Wake Forest lead to as little as 12 twice, once after a jumper with 7:10 in the quarter and again following her first three-point shot of the season with 4:11 to play.
Hollifield trimmed the deficit to 11 with two made triples in the final minutes of the game, but a long shot by Mary Carter prevented the game from getting to single digits as Wake Forest claimed the 60-49 win.
By the Numbers:
The Catamounts won on the glass against the ACC opponent, outrebounding Wake Forest 39-36, recording 13 offensive rebounds and 11 second-chance points.
Following an 11-turnover first half, the Catamounts were much more efficient in controlling the ball in the second, committing only three turnovers in the final 20 minutes. However, Wake Forest was efficient in capitalizing on those turnovers, scoring four points in the second half.
WCU connected on nine 3-pointers against Wake Forest, the most allowed by the Demon Deacons so far this season. The nine threes are also the most by the Catamounts against an NCAA DI opponent so far.
Tina Bowers and Grace Pack both connected on their first three-point shots of the season, though Bowers was her first collegiate 3-pointer. The freshman from Liberty, N.C., also recorded her first collegiate start as Pack made her season debut, missing the early portion due to injury.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU (2-4) finishes off its pre-holiday, two-game road swing in Carrollton, Ga. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, when it takes on the West Georgia Wolves. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. as the Catamounts face off with the ASUN foe for the second consecutive season.
The Catamounts then head to Nassau for the 2025 Baha Mar Nassau Hoops Championship, where they will battle the Clemson Tigers on Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. WCU's second game will come against either Michigan State or Temple on Nov. 30.
