Dec. 4, 2001
Cullowhee, N.C. - Laura Echols scored 23 second-half points to lead Western Carolina to a 70-45 victory over Gardner-Webb Tuesday night at the Ramsey Activity Center.
Echols, who was 2-of-7 with six points in the first half, was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field in the second half, while making 7-of-8 free throws. The Conyers, Ga., native just missed a double-double with eight rebounds and added two assists and three steals.
Gardner-Webb (1-5) led most of the first half, including a seven-point lead at the 6:51 mark. However, Catamount sophomore Janetta Heggins hit a pair of free throws with four seconds left in the first half to tie the game at 27-27 at halftime.
The game stayed close through the first four minutes of the second half. An Echols layup at the 14:27 mark spurred a 15-2 Catamount run, giving WCU a 48-33 lead with 10 minutes to play. Western ended the game on a 17-3 run over the final 4:42 for the 70-45 final.
While both teams were nearly even statistically in the first half, Western (6-1) dominated the second. The Catamounts shot 58.6 percent from the floor (17-of-29), while holding the Bulldogs to just 20 percent shooting (5-of-25). Western also dished out 11 second-half assists to Gardner-Webb's two. The rebound battle, which was in favor of the Bulldogs by two in the first half, was won by WCU, 41-28.
In addition to Echols, junior Marsha McGillivary led the Catamounts' second-half charge, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting, three assists and two steals. Freshman Ki-Ki Glass finished with a game-high five steals and Tiffany Hamm joined Echols by getting eight rebounds on the night.
Gardner-Webb was led by Casey Collins' 17 points. The sophomore guard was 4-of-4 from the free throw line and contributed six rebounds, five on the offensive end. Katie Gravel added 12 points, making 3-of-8 3-pointers, with four steals.
Western will return to action with a pair of road games. The Catamounts open Southern Conference play on Thursday (Dec. 6) with a trip to Furman. Game time is se for 6:00 p.m., at Timmons Arena. Western will then play at Radford on Saturday (Dec. 9), before returning home to host SoCon foe Davidson (Dec. 19) before the Holiday break.
