Jan. 30, 2002
Cullowhee, N.C. - Catamount senior Laura Echols led all scorers with 20 points, but it was freshman reserve Miranda Long who led Western Carolina to an 84-55 victory over Savannah State Wednesday night at the Ramsey Activity Center.
Western Carolina improves to 13-7 on the season, matching its win total of last season (13-15). The Catamounts also complete their non-conference portion of the schedule with an 8-1 mark, with its lone setback coming at nationally-ranked North Carolina early in the season. Savannah State falls to 3-18.
Long, who hails from nearby Cherokee, had her first double-double with career highs in points (15) and rebounds (14) in 22 minutes. She was 5-of-9 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free throw line with nine defensive rebounds. In addition to Long's contribution off the bench, freshman Shaketia Barnes (Wilson, N.C.) scored 12 points in what was just her third game played this season. She was 2-of-4 from the field, but drained 8-of-9 free throws.
Echols (Conyers, Ga.) made her first seven shots en route to her 20 points and was just one rebound shy of a double-double, getting nine boards. The senior center only played 17 minutes, including just six minutes in the second half. Freshman Jennifer Gardner (Norcross, Ga.) also just missed a double-double with her 11 rebounds and eight points. Gardner, with 20 minutes, and Long, with 22, were the only Catamounts to play at least 20 minutes.
Echols made Western's first four baskets, but the Cats only lead 8-7 four minutes into the game. At the 15:42, Yoneko Allen hit a 3-pointer to put WCU up 11-7 and spark a 7-1 run. Savannah State would trim their deficit back down to four (15-11) with 12:35, before Western would go on a 17-4 run and lead by 17 (32-15) with just under five minutes to go in the half. WCU took a 41-23 advantage at halftime.
Western dominated the boards in the first half, 34-18, and held Savannah State to just 27.3 percent shooting from the field. Echols, who was 6-of-6 from the field in the first 20 minutes, had 12 points and six boards at the break.
After making the first basket of the second half, the Catamounts went up 43-23 and held at least a 20-point nearly the whole period. Savannah State cut the lead to 18 once and trimmed their deficit to 19 points twice. The last time was on a Caroline Moore layup with 14:53 left and the Lady Tigers would get no closer the remainder of the contest.
Tonight marked Western's third time this season to win by 29 points. The Cats also defeated UNC-Asheville by 29 (80-53) and Davidson by 29 (107-80). All three victories were at the RAC.
Savannah State was led by Renee Williams and Moore. Williams was 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in scoring 12 points, while Moore added 10 points. Kara Peterkin pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
Western Carolina will return to Southern Conference play on Saturday (Feb. 2) at Wofford. The Catamounts will look to avenge a 97-88 loss to the Terriers in the RAC on Dec. 30. The game, set for 3:00 pm, will feature the league's top two scorers in WCU's Echols and Wofford's Jenny Nett.
