University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Western Carolina
Women's Basketball Falls at Western Carolina, 62-51
12.02.2009 | Women's Basketball
CULLOWHEE, N.C.-- Kendra Carroll led all scorers with 15 and Kristen Feemster and Kaila'Shea Menendez joined her in double figures as Western Carolina defeated UNC Asheville 62-51 at the Ramsey Center on Wednesday night.
Defenses dominated in the first half, and the teams went into the break locked at 25. The Catamounts (2-5) found their shooting touch in the second half, and took advantage of two big runs to pull away from the Bulldogs (2-4). Linda Aughburns led UNC Asheville in points (14), rebounds (7), and assists (3).
Strong interior defense on both sides limited opportunities close to the rim in the first half, so the teams were forced to rely on perimeter shooting. UNC Asheville looked sharp in the early going, taking advantage of two early three-pointers to claim a 10-3 lead. The Bulldogs held on to the advantage until Menendez knotted things up at 20 on a trey with 5:45 to go. The iron was unforgiving for both squads for the remainder of the half until Asheville's Kendall Shepard knocked down a three with 14 seconds on the clock, only to have Heather Swayne answer for the Catamounts as time expired.
After the break, Western was much more successful getting the ball into the post, and opened the half on a 13-2 run behind four points each from Carroll and Feemster. UNC Asheville went almost seven minutes without a field goal until Grace Blaylock nailed a three-pointer, following two made free throws from Aughburns and a Western Carolina turnover, to cut the deficit to four. The Catamounts responded with clutch shots from Carroll and Menendez. Asheville finally had some success scoring in the post in the final ten minutes. Aughburns and Lindsey Montgomery hit key shots in the paint to bring the Bulldogs within two points with 5:40 remaining. From that point, UNC Asheville's shooting cooled and the Catamounts hit three backbreaking three-pointers on a 15-3 run that shut the door on the Bulldogs' comeback hopes.
UNC Asheville was able to effectively contain preseason all-Southern Conference selection Emily Clarke, who had only five points, but the Catamounts had success spreading the ball around. Feemster finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds, and Menendez came off the bench to provide 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Heather Swayne finished with eight points, including two critical three-pointers, and Jessica Jackson made four consecutive free throws down the stretch to finish with seven. Western Carolina also took advantage of a strong showing on the offensive glass. The Catamounts pulled down eight of their 13 offensive rebounds in the second half, with Feemster and Clarke leading the way at four apiece.
Shepard also cracked double figures for the Bulldogs with 10 points. Lindsey Thompson had eight points (all in the first half), and Montgomery scored all seven of her points in the second period, to go with six rebounds. UNC Asheville did a much better job of protecting the basketball than in its previous outing against USC Upstate, committing only 15 turnovers to the Catamounts' 16. The Bulldogs struggled to generate scoring opportunities in the paint, however, and were forced to rely on low-percentage attempts from the perimeter. Asheville shot just 33 percent from the field, while Western Carolina managed 42 percent.
UNC Asheville will be back on the court on Saturday when the Bulldogs face Charlotte (2-5) to wrap up a three game road trip. The Catamounts will also be in action on Saturday, hosting conference rival Davidson (1-6).
