Feb. 3, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's basketball team used a balanced team effort to complete the two-game season sweep of Wofford with a final score of 75-59 Monday night in the Ramsey Center. With the win, the Lady Catamounts improve to 15-5 overall and 8-3 in the conference - still their best league start ever. The victory also guarantees the team a winning season. Wofford falls to 4-16 on the season and 1-10 in the SoCon.
The Terriers opened up scoring in the game on a lay-up by LaToya Strong to give the team the 2-0 lead. Wofford took its only other lead of the game at the 15:53 mark in the first half on a 3-pointer by Strong. The Cats quickly answered with a 3-pointer of their own by Yoneko Allen to give Western the 8-7 lead, which they would not relinquish. WCU led by as many as 10 points on two occasions in the first half, the second time on a driving lay-up by Christy Blackwell, two of her season-high nine points. A lay-up by Hamm sent the Catamounts into the locker room with a 36-27 lead.
Wofford's Nakia Mister scored the first points of the second half on a lay-in with an assist by teammate Brie Bradshaw. The Terriers brought the Catamount lead to just five on a jumper by WC's lone senior, Jenn Stasie. WCU then went on a 6-0 run, sparked by a hard fought lay-up by Janetta Heggins and four points by Blackwell. However, the Terriers would not go away as they brought the margin down to seven points on two free throws by Mister.
A 2-pointer by freshman Kala Greene made the score 47-38 with 12:44 left in the game and the Cats began to pull away, leading by as many as 21 points after a jumper by Greene with 1:32 left on the clock. Three straight turnovers by Western gave the Terriers a chance to shrink WCU's lead, which they accomplished on a lay-up by Bradshaw and a 3-pointer by Mister to mark the final score at 75-59 in favor of the Cats.
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Leading the Catamounts was Heggins with a season-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting to lead all scorers, adding nine rebounds and two assists. Greene tied a career-high 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while Hamm also scored in double figures with 11 points, adding nine rebounds and two assists. Melissa Ervin led Western with a career-high five assists, while Marsha McGillivary recorded a balanced game with a season-high six points, three rebounds and a season-tying two assists.
The Terriers were led by Bradshaw with 15 points, adding eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Three other Wofford players scored in double figures, including Ricaye Harris with 12 and Mister and Stasie with 11 apiece.
WCU returns to action Thursday, Feb. 6, as they face conference leader Chattanooga on the road at 7:00 pm. Wofford travels to Greensboro on Saturday, Feb. 8, to face UNCG at 3:00 pm.
