College of Charleston
Western Carolina
Cougar Comeback Falls Just Short to Catamounts, 56-51
2/25/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The College of Charleston women's basketball team fought back from a 12-point deficit with just under three minutes to go to cut the margin to three but could not get any further as the Cougars fell, 56-51, to the Western Carolina Catamounts in front of 514 fans in the final women's basketball game at the John Kresse Arena.
Charleston dropped to 12-14 overall and 8-8 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina improved to 23-6 and 15-2 in the league. The game marked the final time the women's team will play in the current John Kresse Arena. Beginning with the 2008-09 season, Charleston will be in the “new” John Kresse Arena located in the Carolina First Center being built adjacent to the current gym. Charleston played its 443rd game there tonight and will leave the facility with a 209-134 record.
It was senior night as Erika Smith and Jill Furstenburg were honored in pre-game ceremonies. They both posted double-doubles with Furstenburg leading the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Smith had 14 points and 10 rebounds as well. It was Furstenburg's first career double-double and Smith's fourth.
The Catamounts opened the second half with an 8-2 run to extend their four-point halftime lead to 12, 40-28, with 16:52 remaining. Western Carolina held the 12 point advantage again at the 2:50 mark before the Cougars went on a 9-0 run to cut the margin to just three, 54-51, with 44 seconds to go. Charleston had several opportunities to cut into that but after a turnover and couple of missed three-pointers, Western Carolina nailed two free throws with four second to go to seal the 56-51 win.
Charleston shot 33.3 percent from the field in the game, while Western Carolina shot 34.9. The Cougars were five-for-18 from beyond the three-point arc, compared to just a one-for-nine effort for the Catamounts. WCU edged CofC in rebounds, 45-44, and had four less turnovers, 20-16. The catamounts won the battle inside, scoring 32 points in the paint, compared to just 16 for the Cougars.
Furstenburg and Smith were the only Cougars in double-figures tonight, and both led the team in rebounds. Kendra Eaton led the Catamounts with 12 points. Ashley Pellom followed with 11. Chevon Keith paced the team in rebounds with eight.
Charleston next travels to Appalachian State, Thursday, Feb. 28th for a 7:00 p.m. game.
