Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball remains at home for its second straight contest as the Catamounts host the Queens Royals on Sunday with tip-off against the ASUN foe set for 2 p.m. on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.
Both teams look to snap slides on Sunday afternoon as the Catamounts (2-8) look to spark positive momentum to close out the nonconference slate. Queens (3-4) enters Sunday's matchup on a two-game skid, but on six days' rest with its last contest back on Nov. 30.
Sunday afternoon's game will be livestreamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with a live audio broadcast through the Catamount Sports Network and live stats links available online at CatamountSports.com.
Sunday's Matchup:
Western Carolina (2-8) vs Queens (3-4)
Dec. 7, 2025 | Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center | Cullowhee, N.C. | 2 p.m.
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/yc5s4ynx
Watch (ESPN+): https://tinyurl.com/yv6scsx9
Listen (CSN): https://tinyurl.com/4ynvyytu
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/yc4n29ee
Full Court Press:
The Catamounts and Royals meet for the fourth consecutive season and the fourth time in series history, with WCU holding a 3-0 advantage over the ASUN foe. The last two matchups have been played in Charlotte, with WCU taking an 82-66 victory a year ago. The last matchup in Cullowhee was the first between the two teams, with the Catamounts securing a 68-59 win in 2022.
WCU enters Sunday's matchup with a 2-3 record at home, most recently falling to USC Upstate 55-44 on Dec. 3 in an Education Day matchup. The Catamounts are averaging 62.2 points per home game and are connecting on 34% of their field goals and 25% of their 3-point shots in the Ramsey Center. Defensively, WCU is conceding 64 points at home, and opponents are connecting on 37% from the floor and 32% from beyond the arc.
The Royals ride into Sunday's bout with a 1-4 record on the road, though two of those matchups were against the then second-ranked South Carolina (L, 121-49) and a seven-win James Madison squad (L, 87-38). Overall, the Royals are scoring 58.2 points per road game, and picked up a 76-65 win over SC State in Orangeburg, S.C.
Queens is the second ASUN opponent for the Catamounts this season, who fell to the West Georgia Wolves in Carrollton, Ga., 69-60. WCU represents the only SoCon foe for the Royals this season. Neither team has played a common opponent yet, but the Royals did earn a 58-47 win over Gardner-Webb, which the Catamounts will face on Dec. 13.
Players to Watch:
Betsey Burnett led the Catamounts in scoring her last time out, posting 17 points against USC Upstate. Taj Hunter – who ranks second on the team with 11.2 ppg – went for 12 against the Spartans in the 55-44 loss.
Ally Hollifield, who has been in double-figures in eight of the team's 10 games this season, leads the Catamounts in scoring at 12.5 per outing and has 39 assists to pace the team. She leads the SoCon in total assists and steals (21), ranks fifth in the SoCon in points per game, and is ninth in the conference in total rebounds with 45 boards. Transfer post Ary Dizon leads the conference with 18 blocked shots, including four that she picked up against USC Upstate. The duo was limited to 12 points against the Spartans last time out, Hollifield with seven and Dizon with five.
Scoring in double figures in five of the team's seven games, Brenae Jones-Grant leads the Royals in scoring, posting 13.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. She had a 28-point outburst against SC State in the road win for the Royals and has two double-doubles this season.
Ana Barreto ranks second on the team in scoring at an 11.9 clip, with most of her scoring coming on the three-ball. Barreto leads the team with 20 made 3-pointers and is shooting 35% from long range this season.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU will have a few days of rest before hitting the road to take on the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Saturday, Dec. 13. Tip against the Big South opponent is set for 2 p.m.
The Catamounts then close out the pre-holiday season in Bloomington, Ind., as they face the Indiana Hoosiers on Dec. 21 at 1 p.m.
