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 Led by junior Yoneko Allen and company, the Catamounts are off to their best start in 22 years, and battle UTC for first in the SoCon tonight |
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Jan. 6, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's basketball team is in a position they had hoped to be in since Beth Dunkenberger took over as head coach of the Lady Catamounts: atop the Southern Conference. The Cats are currently 9-2 overall, the team's best record since a 9-2 start in 1980-81, and 2-0 in the conference, their best mark since a 3-0 start in league play during the 1987-88 season.
Tonight, Western Carolina plays host to the Lady Mocs of Chattanooga, the team with which the Catamounts are tied for first in the SoCon. Although not quite ranked in the nation's top 25, UTC did receive five votes for the week of Dec. 30-Jan. 5. The Mocs are led by senior forward Jennifer Wilson, who is averaging 11.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Shamya Sermons is leading the team and is third in the SoCon in rebounding, averaging 8.2 boards per game.
The Catamounts are led by junior forward Tiffany Hamm, who is posting 13.5 ppg, good for fourth in the league, and 6.5 rpg, which ties for eighth in the SoCon. Hamm is also leading the league in free throw percentage, sinking 25-of-29 shots from the line this year for 86.2 percent. Sophomore Jennifer Gardner and junior Yoneko Allen are also averaging double figures at 11.5 and 10.6 ppg, respectively. Allen is currently leading the SoCon in 3-point field goals made with 24, averaging 2.18 per contest. Gardner is tied for second in the conference in offensive rebounds with 34.
