Sunday, December 14
Davidson, N.C.
2:00 p.m.
Davidson College
vs
Western Carolina
Photo by: Sideline Sports
Women's Basketball Returns to Conference Play, Hosts WCU on Sunday
12/11/2008 1:06:15 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Looking to move to 3-0 in Southern Conference play for the second time in the past three years, Davidson finishes its two-game homestand with a contest vs. Western Carolina on Sunday afternoon at John M. Belk Arena.
The Opening Tip
Davidson (3-6, 2-0 SoCon), seeks its eighth win in its past nine home games on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. against Western Carolina (3-4, 0-0 SoCon).
The All-Time Series/Last Meeting
The series has seen Western Carolina capture the past three contests, including two of them on the Wildcats' home floor. WCU leads the all-time series at 23-16. Davidson is 7-11 when hosting the Catamounts.
In the last meeting, Mercedes Robinson recorded her third straight double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but the Catamounts came out firing on all cylinders, hitting 10 of their first 16 shots and never looked back in an 80-57 win at the Ramsey Center.
Scouting the Wildcats
•Davidson stepped out of conference and took on Charlotte Tuesday, dropping a 72-64 decision at home.
•Davidson saw its seven-game home winning streak, dating back last Jan. 12, come to an end on Tuesday. It was the longest streak since the 1998-99 team rattled off nine in a row.
•For the third straight game, and fourth time in the past five contests, the Wildcats placed at least three players in double figures on Tuesday. Robinson led the way with 14 points to go along with seven rebounds.
•Robinson is 4th in the conference in scoring at 14.3 ppg, while averaging 8.8 boards a contest, tops in the SoCon.
•The freshman duo of Amanda Ottaway and Kristen Johnsen provided a spark off the bench for the 'Cats vs. Charlotte with a combined 16 points and 14 rebounds. Both players hit season bests in points with Ottaway dropping in nine and Johnsen seven.
•Point guard Alex Thompson, who dropped in 12 points vs. the 49ers with all 12 coming from behind the arc, was named SoCon Player of the Week on Dec. 9. She averaged 22.5 points a game for the week, dropping in a school-record tying 35 points last Saturday at App. State.
•In the past three games, Thompson is 15-of-26 from behind the three-line, including her SoCon-and school-record shooting performance at App. State of 9-of-12.
•After shooting just 20.6 percent from downtown in their first five games, the Wildcats as a team have turned it up a notch, draining 35 of their last 76 shots from 3-point range for a 46.1 percent clip.
•Davidson's 2-0 start in league play marks the third year in a row it has accomplished the feat.
•The past four games has seen the Wildcats either tie or out-rebound the opposition.
•The Wildcats were swept in last year's two-game series against Western Carolina, moving the all-time series record to 23-16 in favor of the Catamounts.
•In last year's meeting at John M. Belk Arena, the Wildcats surrendered a three-point halftime lead, only to nearly force overtime before Mandy Halbersleben's jumper from the left block rolled off the rim with four seconds remaining and Western added two free throws to close out the score at 71-67.
Scouting the Catamounts
•Western Carolina has been idle since Dec. 7 when it snapped a three-game losing streak with a 68-59 win over Middle Tennessee State. Both teams faced each other in the WNIT last year.
•Emily Clarke scored a career-high 25 points in the win, scoring 19 of them in the first 20 minutes. On the year, she paces the team with a 12.7 point-per-game average and is second with a 6.3 rpg average.
•Lauren Powell, second on the team at 10.1 ppg, set the school-record for three-pointers vs. MTSU at 181 with a three-ball two minutes into the second half. She has hit 12 threes on the year.
•Powell seems to play her best games against Davidson, having averaged close to 14 points in the past four games. She nailed five three-balls at Davidson on Feb. 3, 2007 on her way to 21 points.
•WCU paces the league with a 67.7 ppg average.
•The Catamounts are 0-4 in road contests this year, dropping games at No. 2 North Carolina, No. 7 Tennessee, Montana State and UNC Asheville.
•Western has taken the last two contests vs. Davidson at John M. Belk Arena.
•After finishing 25-9 last year (15-3 SoCon), WCU returns seven of its 11 letterwinners, including three of its five starters.
•WCU reached the Women's NIT for the second straight year a season ago.
Up Next
Davidson takes a five-day break before heading to play Xavier on Dec. 19 at 12 p.m.
Women's Basketball Preseason Virtual Tip-off (10-21-25)
Wednesday, October 29
The Inside Out Show - Episode 7
Friday, January 31
Women's Basketball vs UMass Highlights
Thursday, January 25
Riana Doctor '26 - 'Cats on Tour Testimonial
Sunday, April 02
