March 26, 2004

Cullowhee, N.C. - There are a lot of things that could be said about this year's women's basketball team and the 2003-04 season. There are a lot of words that could describe the squad's dramatic finish and run through the Southern Conference championship. Perhaps head coach Beth Dunkenberger sums it up best: "It's a taste of what's to come."

From March 3-6, the Lady Catamounts completed their dream run through the SoCon tournament and straight to the championship game for the first time in the program's history. "We climbed up that 'ladder', so to speak, and had our hands on the net, but it was taken from us," continued Dunkenberger. "We're ready to finish the job now."

Though the team's road to the SoCon tournament was filled with its share of ups and downs, the one thing every team can count on come tournament time is a fresh start with everyone on an even playing field. The Catamounts used that to their advantage just a few short weeks ago as they took down three straight opponents in three consecutive days en route to the conference title game, the first time a team had accomplished the feat in league history. You could say they were a "Cinderella" team living a dream, but talk to the players and coaches themselves and they'd simply tell you it was what they had prepared for all along.

"I knew we had the talent to win," senior guard Yoneko Allen explained. "I just prayed about it and got the team together and let everyone know that it was time to come together and play like we knew we could. I never doubted our team's capability."

Christy Blackwell runs past her Furman defenders in the semifinals of the 2004 SoCon tournament.

Senior guard Christy Blackwell echoed Allen's sentiments. "I knew that we were going to do well, because we had our lows during the regular-season. And I could feel that we were finally coming together and that once we entered the tournament that it was going to go well."

As any of the team members will say, getting that first win over Wofford was a collective sigh of relief and, as it turned out, was the program's first tournament win since 1999.

"We knew that if we did what we were supposed to do in the Wofford game that we were guaranteed to win," Blackwell said. "We just didn't want to take them lightly, so we prepared well for that game."

"That first game was a critical game for us," senior forward Tiffany Hamm admitted. "That had been a monkey on our back (over the last several years). I felt that if we could just make it past Wofford that we could do some good things in the tournament. So it was such a relief to get that win, especially when you know it's something you should have done a long time ago. After that, there was nothing to worry about; we could just go out and play."

And that they did. The win over Wofford set the Cats up for a re-match with conference rival Davidson, who, just one year prior had upset Western Carolina to advance to the semifinals. If there was any game the Catamounts were ready for, it was this story book match-up with the Wildcats. After No. 7 Davidson defeated second-seeded WCU in 2003 by a score of 62-58, the Catamounts felt it was time to turn the tables. In a complete reversal of outcomes, in 2004 it was Western who came out on top, holding the Wildcats to just 58 points, while Western Carolina rallied to outscore Davidson 12-0 in the final 2:29 of the game. The dramatic come-from-behind victory catapulted the Catamounts into the SoCon semifinals for the first time in five years, though it was the first time in school history that the team had won two games in order to advance.

"It was a very emotional win for me and most of the team," Allen said. "I praised God and actually cried a little near the end of the game and just boo-hooed in the locker room. I really can't say what made me cry, but it was a good cry. As a team, and personally, it was our first time ever making it to the semifinals and it felt great! It brought us one step closer to our championship goal."

Tiffany Hamm goes hard to the basket versus Wofford in the opening round of the 2004 SoCon tournament.

"That was a very hard-fought and emotional game," Hamm said. "It was almost a complete reversal of what they did to us last year. We led the majority of that game (last year) and they hit a shot to beat us in the last minute. This year, they led the entire game and we came back and hit a shot to go up for good with about 45 seconds to go, then we got some steals and made our free throws in the end. It was probably the most emotional win in my career, just to be able to avenge the loss to them last year and to be able to move on to the semifinals."

Next up for the Catamounts was Furman with the winner having a chance to play for the conference crown. After spliting games with the Paladins during the regular-season and winning the last contest (a 66-58 decision in Cullowhee on Feb. 21), the Cats felt prepared for the showdown at the Coliseum in March.

"I expected us to beat Furman," explained Hamm. "I had no doubt that we were going to win that game. We played so well against Davidson the day before so we were very confident. Knowing that beating Furman would send us to the championship game gave us all the motivation we needed."

Allen remembers her reaction to the win vividly: "I just shouted, 'We made it! Thank you Lord!' Though I was tired, I was so excited and eager to play in the championship game."

Senior captain Yoneko Allen, flanked by teammates (l-r) Ki-Ki Glass, Jennifer Gardner, Erin May, Lori Tanner and Tiffany Hamm, celebrate their upset win over Furman in the 2004 SoCon tournament to advance to the championship game for the first time in WCU history.

Though a little exhaustion was beginning to set in, one couldn't tell by the performance the Catamounts gave against Furman. A strict regimen of stretching, treatment and soaking in the cold pool kept the team's bodies fresh through the tournament, though three straight days of playing in tough games began to take its toll on the players. By the fourth and final game, it was WCU's turn to face conference-leader Chattanooga, who entered the game with a 27-2 record and the nation's longest winning streak. But that didn't mean anything to these Catamounts who had fought so hard to get to where they were, although they fell in the end by a score of 86-68. And to their credit, the Cats got closer to beating the Mocs than any other team in the tournament as UTC defeated Georgia Southern by 23 (73-50) and rolled over Elon by 20 (57-37).

Blackwell recounts her feelings about the championship: "I was just happy to be playing in the championship game, and even though we didn't come out with a victory, I was still proud of my teammates and the coaches. I felt like we put up a great effort, but UTC is a great team."

Allen agreed with her teammate: "I thank God just for the opportunity to play in the championship game. It felt wonderful knowing that we had made it that far, especially when a lot of teams and people had overlooked us and counted us out."

With a team led by these three seniors, it was hard to count them out of anything throughout their careers at Western. Collectively, the trio appears in the WCU record books 44 times and they hold nine Catamount records - pretty amazing when you realize how many long-standing records have been broken in the process. For example, Allen's knack for shooting the long ball propelled her into the top spot on Western's all-time made 3-pointers list with 180, passing Laura Vannoy who had held that spot since 1990. Add to the fact that Allen accomplished this in just three years with the Catamounts after transferring from Clemson and it's twice as amazing.

"Yoneko is a great long-range shooter," Dunkenberger said. "She also took good care of the ball. As for Tiffany, she is a very talented scorer and rebounder. We will miss her offensive production and tenacity on the boards. Christy is an intense defensive player and one of the quickest in the league. We will surely miss them all."

There have been numerous exciting and special moments in the careers of these three standout student-athletes. Here are a few they'd like to remember:

"Breaking the (WCU career) steals record and placing second in career assists was pretty special," Blackwell said. "Also, I'll always remember being a part of the 21-7 team of last year as well as making it to the SoCon championship game this year."

Yoneko Allen fires a long-range shot over a Chattanooga defender in the championship game.

"The main highlight of my career would have to be making it to the championship round of the tournament this year," Allen said. "That was a good way to end my career at Western, although it would have definitely been better if we had won."

Hamm agreed: "Being in the championship game at the Southern Conference tournament was probably the best highlight of my career, even though we didn't win. It was great to have a good run at the end of the season."

Just to name a few of their accomplishments, Tiffany Hamm has been the SoCon Freshman of the Year (2001), SoCon Player of the Year (2003), twice been named to the All-Conference first team and was on this year's All-Tournament first team. Yoneko Allen has recently been named to the Academic All-America third team after being on the All-District III team for three consecutive years. She has also been a WCU Female Scholar Athlete of the Year (2002) and twice been named an Arthur Ashe, Jr., Scholar Athlete. Christy Blackwell has been a TIAA/CREF Student-Athlete of the Week, and Arthur Ashe, Jr., Scholar Athlete and was named to this year's All-Tournament second team.

With all that they have accomplished in their time at Western, they have a few parting words for the returning players, upcoming freshman class, fans and Catamount Club members:

"For the players, I'd just tell them to work hard and be ready to compete every day in practice," Hamm advises. "Whether it's drills or 5-on-5, if you try to be better than the person across from you every day, it will make everyone better in the long run. For the fans and Club members, I really appreciate the support we've gotten. I think they've done a great job of backing women's athletics here at WCU in general. You don't get that same support at a lot of other places."

"To the players, I say just work hard from the beginning," Blackwell urged. "I feel like if we had worked a little bit harder, either in the weight room or in practice, we might have won that championship game. If you always put forth that little extra effort, that will get you over the top. And to the fans and everyone else, I thank you for your support."

"To the team, I would say just keep God in your life; it's the only way you can make it," Allen encourages. "Also, play and work as hard as you can and always give it your all, because it will be over before you know it. Just think about all the people and little girls who want to be in your shoes. Finally, HAVE FUN! It's the game you love and always have, so enjoy it.

"Thanks to the fans for all of your support and for allowing me to be apart of a great tradition," Allen continued. "They accepted me and I will never forget that. I really appreciate everything they have done for me, WCU women's basketball and athletics in general. Finally, thanks for believing in our team and standing behind us no matter what."

As for their plans after graduation, the possibilities are very different for each of them, but one thing they all share is their guarantee for success no matter what their endeavor. As for Allen, she is not sure what her long-term plans are, although she does hope to attend graduate school. Aiding her in that respect, she has already received the Mike Wood Postgraduate Scholarship, which is awarded by the Southern Conference, and she has recently been named a regional finalist for an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship as well.

"First, I am going to finish school, which will not be until December, because I still have to do my student teaching," Hamm said. "After that, I may go overseas to play basketball or, if that doesn't work out or I decide not to, I'll be teaching special education and coaching high school basketball more than likely."

"Right now I have a financial management job in Waynesville that I plan on keeping," Blackwell said. "I plan on staying in the area for a while and then go from there."

Wherever life takes these young ladies and whatever the future holds, WCU athletics will always be a part of them and we wish them the best. As for their place in Catamount history, they will be remembered for many years to come as part of a special program built on tradition and excellence for which they were an integral part of.

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