Greenville, S.C. – Grace Pack and Ary Dizon led a strong defensive effort in the first half on Saturday afternoon at Furman, combining for three blocked shots through the opening 20 minutes as the Catamount defense held the Paladins to 18 first-half points on 17.6 percent shooting. However, the Paladins regrouped and rallied in the second, taking a 69-38 win in Southern Conference action at Timmons Arena.
Guards Ally Hollifield and Taj Hunter tied for the team lead in scoring, posting nine points apiece. Pack and Betsey Burnett both posted eight rebounds, leading the Catamounts on the glass.
Five Paladins recorded double-digit scoring in the win, with Alyssa Ervin leading the team with 17 points. Clare Cole went for a double-double, posting 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Chantelle Stuart led the team with six assists to go with her 11 points.
WCU (3-15, SoCon 0-4) returns home to host the ETSU Bucs on Jan. 22 for the annual "Blackout" game. Furman (11-8, SoCon 3-1) hits the road to take on the Mercer Bears, also on Jan. 22.
How it Happened:
The Catamounts posted the first four points of the afternoon before Furman answered with a 9-0 run, taking their first lead with two minutes to go in the first quarter. WCU answered with a 7-0 run to retake the lead before Furman's Brooklyn King drained a 3-pointer to give the home team a 12-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
WCU's defense rolled in the second quarter, holding Furman to just a 1-of-20 shooting effort from the floor in the frame and just six total points. Tina Bowers opened the quarter with back-to-back buckets as the Catamounts took the lead back. Ally Hollifield built the lead to four points after a long shot, which then grew to eight points after free throws by Betsey Burnett and Hollifield to close the quarter. Western Carolina led at halftime, 26-18.
Ary Dizon briefly gave the Catamounts a double-digit advantage, 28-18, at the opening of the second half, but Furman fought back with a 17-0 run and built an 11-point lead. Grace Pack hit two from the free throw line to break up the scoring run, but the Paladins closed with six of the final eight points of the quarter to take a 46-33 lead into the final frame.
Furman controlled the final 10 minutes of Saturday's game, outscoring WCU 23-5 with a quarter-opening nine and seven-point runs. Bowers, Pack, and Taj Hunter each connected on free throws as Furman closed out the 69-38 win.
By The Numbers:
The Catamounts held the Paladins to only 18 first-half points, limiting Furman to just 6-of-34 from the floor over the opening 20 minutes. Furman rallied in the second, though, scoring 51 and connecting on 21-of-39 field goal attempts.
Furman also capitalized on WCU's turnovers, scoring 18 of their 51 second-half points on those turnovers.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU is back at home to host ETSU for the annual "Blackout the Bucs" game on Thursday, Jan. 22. Tip with the Blue Mountain Rival is set for 6 p.m. The Catamounts then host the Chattanooga Mocs on Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. in the first half of a home doubleheader.
The Catamounts then have the midweek off before taking on the UNCG Spartans in Greensboro, N.C., on Feb. 1.
