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Monday, January 26
Cullowhee, N.C.
12:00 p.m.
Davidson College
66
at
72
Western Carolina
Photo by: Sideline Sports
Wildcats Drop Fifth League Game, Falling at Western Carolina 72-66
1/26/2009 3:00:46 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina's Brooke Johnson recorded her seventh double-double of the season and hit the go-ahead free throw as Davidson dropped its fifth straight decision, 72-66, on Monday afternoon in Southern Conference women's basketball action.
The Wildcats, who placed at least three players in double figures in points for the ninth game in a row, fell to 8-13 overall and 7-5 in league play after starting 7-0. Western moved to 11-8 overall and 7-4 in SoCon action with its third straight win.
Johnson registered 22 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including hitting all four of her shots from downtown, and led the Catamounts to an 18-for-24 showing at the charity stripe with a perfect 6-for-6 showing at the line. She also hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds for the double-double.
Davidson was led by the guard duo of Alex Thompson (Asheville, N.C.) and Ashley Lax (Little Rock, Ark.) with 12 points each, while Mandy Halbersleben (Cincinnati, Ohio) hit the double-digit mark for the second time this season with an even 10. Leading scorer Mercedes Robinson (Baltimore, Md.) was held to just six points, nearly 10 below her average on the year.
Down 60-56, Johnson hit her fourth trey of the game at the 6:04 mark, and then after a missed layup by Kristen Johnsen (Wayne, Pa.), the WCU post player drew a shooting foul and proceeded to hit both free throws to give the Catamounts the lead 61-60 with five minutes left in the game.
Western never gave back the lead and got a three-point play from Kristen Feemster with 22 second left that sealed the loss for the Wildcats.
Davidson had worked its way back from a 43-38 deficit by going on a 14-4 run midway through the second half. Six different 'Cats scored during the run, including four straight points from Johnsen.
The Wildcats two biggest miscues came on back-to-back possessions at the 2:19 mark and 1:55 mark. The Wildcats had cut the Western lead to one at 65-64 on a layup by Thompson and forced two missed shots. But, the Wildcats were never able to cross the ball over into their side of the court after the two misses, turning the ball over twice.
Western Carolina capitalized on the last turnover with a three-pointer, and after another bucket by Thompson that brought the Wildcats to within two, 68-66, Feemster sealed the win with her three-point play.
The first half saw the score go back-and-forth with six lead changes, including the final bucket of the half by Feemster that gave the Catamounts a 37-36 halftime edge.
Robinson gave the Wildcats a 14-11 lead early at the 11:34 mark when she converted on a three-point play. Later, fellow forward Julia Paquette pushed the lead out to six, 25-19, when she hit back-to-back buckets inside.
Johnson kept things close though for Western Carolina, with her outside shooting. She drained three of her five first-half field goals from behind the arc, including her last three of the half which tied things up at 31-all and 3:38 left on the clock. The senior closed the half with 13 points and seven rebounds.
For the first time this year the Wildcats placed all 10 of its players in the scorers book. Freshman Christina Perez (North Attleboro, Mass.) scored her first two collegiate points in the game as she helped the Wildcat bench outscore the Catamounts, 28-23.
The Wildcats continue their three-game road swing with a trip to Spartanburg, S.C. to play Wofford to close out the month of January. Gametime is set for 3:00 p.m.
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