Nov. 16, 2001
Orlando, Fla. - Western Carolina sophomore Tiffany Hamm scored 20 points to lead the Catamounts to a season-opening, 65-52 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the first round of Central Florida University's Golden Knights Classic at UCF Arena on Friday afternoon.
WCU took a 33-21 lead into the intermission thanks to Laura Echols' 13 first-half points. The senior from Conyers, Ga., went 6-for-8 from the field in the first half as the Catamounts shot an ever 50 percent (15-of-30) from the floor.
Shooting accuracy was the key to the game as the Catamounts shot 51.9 percent (29-of-57) from the field overall, while holding Bethune-Cookman to just 27.4 percent (20-of-73). The WCU defense additionally did not allow Bethune-Cookman to sink a field goal from the 16:47 mark to 7:30 mark of the second half. During that nine-minute span, WCU was able to go on a 15-2 run to help provide the final 13-point margin.
Echols finished the night one rebound short of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Hamm (Harlan, Ky.) pulled down seven rebounds and made two of the team's three 3-pointers in the game. Freshman point guard Ki-Ki Glass (College Park, Ga.) had an impressive debut for Western with three assists, four steals and zero turnovers in 33 minutes of play.
Nikki Mason led Bethune-Cookman with 15 points, while Brandee Moses added seven points and nine rebounds.
Both teams return to action tomorrow in the second round of the tournament. Bethune-Cookman (0-1) tips off against the University of Texas-Arlington at 1 p.m., while Western Carolina (1-0) faces host University of Central Florida at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at UCF Arena.
