Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina women's basketball team steps out of the country for the first time in program history this week, as the Catamounts are scheduled to compete in the 2025 Baha Mar Nassau Hoops Championship to close out Thanksgiving week.
WCU faces the Clemson Tigers to open the tournament on Friday, Nov. 28, at 4 p.m. and will face either #20/25 Michigan State or Temple on Nov. 30 at either 4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., depending upon the opening-day results. All the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Championship games will be livestreamed on FloCollege (paid subscription required), with live stats available through links at CatamountSports.com.
The Catamounts (2-5) enter the tournament looking to build momentum to close out their nonconference slate, as WCU fell to the West Georgia Wolves last time out. Clemson (4-2) enters the tournament set to battle its second consecutive SoCon foe after most recently taking down the Furman Paladins, 76-58.
No. 20/25 Michigan State (6-0) rides into the tournament red hot, posting triple-digit scoring in three of its six games and at least 90 in all six, while the Temple Owls (3-3) are looking to pump the brakes on a two-game skid.
2025 Baha Mar Nassau Hoops Championship:
Western Carolina (2-5) vs Clemson (4-2)
Nov. 28 | 4 p.m. | Nassau, The Bahamas | Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center
Watch (FloCollege): https://tinyurl.com/mrynxar3
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/j5xarux4
#20/25 Michigan State (6-0) vs. Temple (3-3)
Nov. 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Nassau, The Bahamas | Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center
Consolation Game
Nov. 30 | 4 p.m. | Nassau, The Bahamas | Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center
Championship Game
Nov. 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Nassau, The Bahamas | Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center
Full Court Press:
The Catamounts and Tigers meet for the 11th time in series history, with the Catamounts trailing 1-9 all-time. Friday's matchup is only the second between the two teams this decade, with the previous meeting coming in 2022 – an 81-42 Tiger victory. The Catamounts previously defeated the Tigers during the 2007-08 season, battling to a 62-53 road win over the ACC foe.
Should the Catamounts and Michigan State Spartans meet in Nassau, it would only be the second meeting between the two teams and the first since an 84-61 Spartan victory in East Lansing in 2005-06. If WCU crosses paths with the Temple Owls, it would be the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
While the Catamounts are set to compete internationally for the first time in program history, they have seen action outside the contiguous United States in the past. WCU has competed three times in Hawaii and Alaska, posting a 5-2 record in those states, and most recently battled Cincinnati and Coastal Carolina in Alaska in 2009-10. WCU won the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational in Fairbanks, Alaska, back in November 2004.
WCU enters the tournament on a five-game skid, most recently falling at West Georgia 69-60 in Carrollton, Ga. The Catamounts are averaging 61.2 points per game and connecting on 35.6% of their shots to open the season, but have won the rebounding battle their last two times out and in five of their seven games to start the season.
Clemson is currently 2-0 against SoCon competition this season after recording wins over Mercer (72-51) and Furman (76-58). In their win over Mercer, Clemson held the Bears under 40% from the floor and from range, while connecting on 54% of their shots and sinking 10 3-pointers. The Paladins were significantly more efficient against the Tigers, connecting on 72% of their three-point shots (8-of-11), but Clemson forced 20 Furman turnovers and recorded 25 points of those changes of possession.
The only ranked team in WCU's bracket in The Bahamas, the #20/25 Michigan State Spartans are red hot to start the season, rolling to six consecutive wins and posting at least 90 points in all their victories. Michigan State is outscoring opponents 614-289 (102.3-to-48.2) and shooting 54.2% from the floor and 41.2% from range to start the season. The Spartans' closest win was still a 32-point thrashing of Eastern Michigan (92-60), while their largest victory was a 125-39 win over Mercyhurst.
Temple enters the weekend's action on a two-game slide, with losses to Villanova and Richmond. The Owls opened the year with wins over George Mason and George Washington and are looking to rebound following the recent slump. Temple is 4-1 against current members of the Southern Conference, with their most recent matchup being a 64-45 victory over ETSU in the 2004-2005 season.
Players to Watch:
WCU was led by Betsey Burnett and Taj Hunter against West Georgia, with Burnett posting a season-high 22 points against the Wolves, including 13 points on a 5-of-5 field goal and 3-of-3 beyond the arc run by the junior transfer to close out the first quarter. Hunter posted 17 points for her fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
Ally Hollifield continues to lead the Catamounts in overall scoring, recording 96 points this season and averaging 13.7 per outing. Joyce Mulumba paces the squad in rebounding with 47, while Ary Dizon ranks second with 38. Additionally, Dizon leads the team and the SoCon with 12 blocks, though Grace Pack already has four in only two game appearances this season.
Mia Moore and Ria Augustinaite lead Clemson in scoring, posting 82 and 71 points, respectively, collectively on the year as the only two Tigers to average double figures. Moore also leads the Tigers in rebounding, collecting 43 boards through her six appearances. Catamount fans may also recognize the name Rachel Rose, as the former Wofford Terrier ranks fourth on the team in total points with 48.
Five Michigan State Spartans are averaging double-digit points per game already, though Grace Vanslooten leads the team with a 16.7 average and 100 total points this season. Most of Michigan State's three-point production has come off the bench, as Emma Shumate and Amy Terrian lead the team with 14 and 10 made threes so far this season. However, the Spartan offense primarily runs through Kennedy Blair and Rashunda Jones as the two have dished out 38 and 32 assists through Michigan State's six games.
Temple is led offensively by Kaylah Turner, who has posted 88 points through the Owls' six games this season. However, both Saniyah Craig and Jaleesa Molina have been dominant on the glass this season, with the duo combining for 110 of Temple's 258 rebounds this year. Tristen Taylor leads the team in assists with 33 and is averaging 11.0 points per game to go along with her 17 rebounds.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU returns home for two straight games following its run in The Bahamas to host the USC Upstate Spartans on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Tip is set for 11 a.m. as the Catamounts host the Spartans for their annual Education Day game.
The Catamounts then host their final Division I opponent of the nonconference slate at home as they battle the Queens Royals on Sunday, Dec. 7. Tip with the Royals is slated for 2 p.m.
