College of Charleston
Western Carolina
Cougars Drop 80-59 Decision to Catamounts
2/19/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Three Catamounts scored in double-figures to lead Western Carolina to the 80-59 win over the College of Charleston women's basketball team in front of 427 fans tonight at the John Kresse Arena.
Charleston drops its eighth straight to go to 10-18 overall and 5-12 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina improves to 20-8 and 14-3 in the league. Charleston's eight-game losing streak ties its longest since the 2003-04 season.
The Cougars struggled offensively to start the first half as the Catamounts seemed to be firing on all cylinders to lead by 16, 30-14, with 6:11 to go before intermission. However, Charleston found its shooting touch, outscoring Western Carolina 17-6 the rest of the half to go into the locker room only down by five, 36-31.
Charleston shot 44.4 percent from the field in the half, while Western Carolina shot 44.4 percent. The Cougars turned the ball over 12 times, resulting in 18 Catamount points. Charleston scored eight off WCU's six turnovers. Both teams were two-for-five from beyond the three-point arc.
The Catamounts stormed out of the locker room in the second half, taking a five-point lead and increasing it to 19 with a 14-0 run to make the score 50-31 with 14:51 left in the game. Charleston cut the deficit to 13 at 54-41 with 10:42 to go but WCU out-scored CofC 36-18 down the stretch to take the 21-point 80-59 win.
Western Carolina shot well in the second half as well, posting 50.0 percent from the field, compared to 31.3 percent for the Cougars. The Catamounts finished the game with 48.2, while Charleston finished with 37.3. The Cougars out-rebounded the Catamounts 38-34, but had 23 turnovers, compared to 16 for WCU. The Catamounts took advantage, scoring 36 of their points off the CofC turnovers. Charleston was 11-for-16 from the free-throw line, while Western Carolina was19-for-25.
Brooke Johnson paced the Catamounts with 18 points, while Lauren Powell posted 16. Monique Dawson followed with 14. Heather Swayne led in rebounds with six. Jade Hughes led the Cougars with 16, while Deidra Jones had 10 and a team-leading seven rebounds.
Western Carolina hosts UNC Greensboro Saturday, Feb. 24th at 4:00 p.m. in its regular-season finale. The Cougars wrap up the regular-season as well, hosting Georgia Southern the same day, but at 2:00 p.m.
