Feb. 22, 2002
Cullowhee, NC - Years of hard work and practice have paid off for two Catamount teammates, and on Saturday they will be recognized for their contributions to the women's basketball team. Senior center Laura Echols brings her career at Western Carolina to an end as one of the school's best in several categories. She is just 33 points shy of becoming WCU's single season record holder in scoring, currently sitting at 512 points for the year. She is also second on the list for field goals made in a season at 213 so far, as well as second on the list for career field goals made with 707 and career points with 1,742.
Echols is third on the list for career field goal attempts at 1,393 as well as for season field goal attempts with 408 so far this season. These are just some of the records she has been working on since joining the Catamounts in 1998.
"Basketball has been such a big part of my life. I've enjoyed playing with my teammates and I'm grateful to them and to my coaches for all their support over the years and for making this a great year for me," said Echols. "This game will put an end to my past and hopefully be the start of a great beginning somewhere, wherever that is. I know my parents and extended family and friends along with my fiance will be at the game on Saturday, and I just want to thank them for coming to my games and supporting me."
Fifth-year senior Katie Scott began her career at Western Carolina during the 1997-98 season. So Scott has been here helping build this basketball program the past five years to what it is today.
"I have enjoyed seeing the growth of our program," said Scott. "This year everyone has been really close, which makes it nice. I'm not sure yet what I'll do once this year is over. Hopefully I'll either finish grad school or look for a Division I coaching job somewhere."
Scott posted her best game of the season during her freshman year at Coppin State (11/19) with 10 points, two rebounds and four assists, and scored 10 points again against rival Appalachian State (1/31). After completing a medical redshirt season her sophomore year, Scott came back in 1999-00 to play in 27 games and start in 10 of them. She averaged a career-high 5.3 ppg, scoring a career-high 18 points against College of Charleston (1/26). During the 2000-01 season, she recorded a career-high five assists against Winthrop (11/18), and seven rebounds at Appalachian State (1/23).
When asked if there were any high points that stood out, Scott replied, "definitely the two big games we had when we beat Furman this year (1/26) and Georgia Southern (1/7, 2/9) for the first time since I've been a part of this program. I hope to leave with another big win on Saturday against UNCG."
The two seniors will be honored prior to tip-off at 2 pm Saturday, February 23 at the Ramsey Center in the last regular-season game for the Catamounts. Next week they prepare for the Southern Conference Tournament, which begins Thursday, February 28 in Charleston, SC.
|
|
 |
