Cougars Fall to Catamounts, 98-65 - CofCSports.com--Official Web site of College of Charleston Athletics

Monday, February 20

Cullowhee, NC

7pm

College of Charleston

Western Carolina

Cougars Fall to Catamounts, 98-65 - CofCSports.com--Official Web site of College of Charleston Athletics

2/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

#articleRelated { display: none !important; } Erika Smith scored 13 points, just one from her career-high, while Jade Hughes added 12 points, in a losing effort, falling to the Western Carolina Catamounts in women's basketball action in front of 202 fans at the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C.

The Cougars fall to 7-10 overall and 11-15 in the Southern Conference, while WCU improves to 8-18 and 8-9 in the league. It is Charleston's fifth loss in its last six games.

The Cougars and Catamounts played tight for the first seven and a half minutes as Charleston only trailed WCU by a point, 9-8, with 13:44 left in the half. The Catamounts exploded after that, outscoring the Cougars 34-14 over the next 16 minutes to take the 43-22 lead going into halftime. Western Carolina shot 48.6 percent in the first half compared to just 32.1 for the College of Charleston.

Western Carolina opened the second half the same way it ended the first, with tremendous shooting. Charleston was able to respond briefly and even cut the margin to 15 with 16:18 to go before a 23-7 run over the next seven minutes sealed the Cougars' fate as they trailed 72-41 with 9:21 left in the game. Charleston never got closer than 21 points and fell in the final 98-65 decision. It was the largest margin of victory for the Catamounts over the Cougars since a 39-point 89-50 win in the 2000 season. Western Carolina was on fire, shooting 70.4 percent in the second half, compared to 44.4 for Charleston.

For the game Charleston shot 39.1 percent from the field, while WCU shot 57.8. Hurting the Cougars was a dismal performance from three-point range, going 1-for-14 for a 7.1 percent. Western was nine-for-17 for 52.9.

Smith's 13 points led the Cougars on the night, while Hughes' 12 was second. Eight of those 12 points was from free throws, as she went eight-for-eight from the line. Nikki Williams paced the team in rebounds with eight on the night.

Five Catamounts were in double figures with Monique Dawson leading the way with 18. Chevon Keith posted 11 rebounds, plus 11 points, to pace the team as well.

The Cougars travel to Georgia Southern Feb. 25th to take on the Eagles in the regular season finale set to tip off at 3:00 PM. The Catamounts travel to UNC Greensboro the same day for a 2:00 PM match.