 |
 Junior Jennifer Gardner has been selected as the SoCon Player of the Week for the second time this season after leading the Catamounts to two conference wins this past week. |
 |
Feb. 24, 2004
Spartanburg, S.C. - Western Carolina junior Jennifer Gardner has been selected the Southern Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 24, making it the second time this season and third time in her career to receive the recognition. Her two bids along with teammate Tiffany Hamm's two appointments gives WCU four Player of the Week selections for the 2003-04 season, which is the most of any school in the SoCon (no other school has more than two selections).
A forward from Norcross, Ga., Gardner led the Catamounts to two conference wins last week. She started the week with 12 points and seven rebounds in a 57-45 loss to Elon on February 17. Gardner then rebounded with a game-high 23 points as WCU toppled second place Furman, 66-58. She added eight rebounds in the effort to help the Catamounts not only complete the season split with the Paladins but also end the team's shortest losing streak of the season at one game. The 5-11 junior scored the final five points for the Cats and shot nearly 73 percent on 8-of-11 shooting from the field in the contest and hit seven of her eight free throws.
Gardner ended the week with a game-high 18 points and 11 boards in Western's 78-59 win over Wofford Monday night, going 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. The victory completed WCU's season sweep of the Terriers. On the week, Gardner averaged 17.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and shot 61.8 percent (21-of-34) from the floor. She also picked up her eighth double-double of the season, second best in the league behind teammate Tiffany Hamm.
The Catamounts close out their regular-season Saturday at 4:00 pm as the team hosts Appalachian State in the first of a doubleheader that day. The WCU men also host ASU with game time set for 7:00. Saturday will not only be "Beach Night at the RAC", but it will also mark senior night for three Lady Cats as well as two from the men's squad. The senior classes will be honored prior to their respective games.
|
|
 |
