University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Western Carolina
Women's Basketball Falls to Western Carolina, 78-59
11.17.2010 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Emily Clarke came off the bench to score 22 points to lead Western Carolina to a 78-59 win over homestanding UNC Asheville Wednesday night at Justice Center.
The Bulldogs (1-1) were led by a trio of players in double figures. Kendall Shepard led the home teams with 17 points. Lindsey Thompson added 12 points, while Kelli Riles produced a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Grace Blaylock knocked down three long 3-pointers to finish with nine points.
The Lady Catamounts (1-2) had Caitlin Hollifield with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Rena Wakama had 12 points. Kendra Carroll contributed 11 points. Clarke went 5-of-6 from beyond the arc on the evening.
"We just couldn't put it all together tonight at the right time," explained Asheville coach Betsy Blose. "We would get stops and then we'd turn it over. We made some good runs to get back in the game but then to Western Carolina's credit they would get a big bucket to stop our momentum.
"We fought hard and competed and we're getting better," added Blose. "But we just weren't good enough tonight to be a good team like Western Carolina."
WCU took control of the game midway through the first half with an 18-3 run. Asheville led 8-7 with 13 minutes to go but could only muster one field goal over the next five minutes. Clarke keyed the run with three long treys. A lay-up form Kristen Lyon gave the Cats a 25-11 lead at the 8:27 mark.
The Bulldogs battled back and crept to 35-27 on a Shepard jumper late in the half before WCU scored the final three points to lead 38-27 at halftime. Clarke scored the final three points of the half.
Asheville got out of the gates quickly in the second half as Blaylock hit back-to-back three-pointers to narrow the margin to 40-35.
However, WCU scored five quick points, including a trey from Clarke to get the lead back to 10 at 45-35.
Asheville made one more run as the Bulldogs got a three-point play from Thompson to close to 58-51 at the 6:27 mark. However, the Lady Cats would outscore the home team 20-8 in the final six minutes to win going away.
UNC Asheville travels to Campbell on Saturday for its first road game of the season. Tip-off at Gore Arena will be at 1 p.m.
