Dec. 13, 2001
Cullowhee, N.C. - Both the men's and women's basketball teams at Western Carolina are ranked among the NCAA leaders in a number of statistical categories. The first NCAA statistics are for games played through Dec. 10, meaning totals for the WCU men's game versus Guilford are not included.
The men's team ranks eighth (tied) nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 50.9 percent (239-of-470), while ranking ninth in scoring offense (87.6 points per game) and 30th in scoring margin (+16.0).
Individually, freshman Kevin Martin ranks seventh (tied) among the NCAA steals leaders with his 3.3 average. The Zanesville, Ohio, native additionally ranks 47th (tied) nationally in scoring with a 19.9 average. Martin scored a game-high 29 points versus Guilford, improving his scoring average to 21.0 ppg.
Catamount senior Willie Freeman (Lithonia, Ga.) has a field goal percentage of .655 (36-of-55) through the first seven games to rank ninth in the NCAA. Kelvin Wylie (Rock Hill, S.C.) has also played a key role in Western's high field goal percentage. Wylie is shooting 60 percent (33-of-55) from the field. That total would rank 30th nationally, but he fell just short of the NCAA minimum of making five field goals per game to miss the list.
The Western Carolina women's team ranks 35th (tied) nationally with a .778 winning percentage, posting a 7-2 mark. Individually, senior Laura Echols (Conyers, Ga.) is tied for 20th in the NCAA with a scoring average of 20.0 points per game.
Both the WCU men's and women's teams will return to action on Dec. 19 (Wednesday). The women will open its Southern Conference home schedule versus Davidson. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m., in the RAC. The men will play the first of a two-game road swing, facing Kansas State at 8:00 p.m. (ET). The Cats will finish the road trip with an 8:00 p.m. (ET) game versus Wichita State on Friday (Dec. 21).
|
|
 |
