March 17, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - Despite an untimely ending to a most incredible season, Western Carolina women's basketball has much to be proud of this year. The Catamounts finished the season 21-7, which ties the program's most wins in a season ever and their best record since becoming a Division I program in 1981. Their 14-4 finish in the Southern Conference marks the first time Western has posted a winning league record. WCU also defeated every conference team at least once during the season for the first time ever and swept five of its league opponents. Also notable is that head coach Beth Dunkenberger was named the SoCon's Coach of the Year, while junior Tiffany Hamm was named the league's Player of the Year, the first time a Catamount has earned either honor.
"We had a terrific year," Dunkenberger said. "This was the most wins we've had in the program in quite some time. Add to that the fact that we're only losing two players and returning our key scorers and rebounders next year. We expect to come back and contend for a conference championship next year."
Dunkenberger, in just her third season at the helm, earned her 50th career win in 82 games as a Catamount in the team's win over conference rival Appalachian State, making it the fastest any head coach has reached the milestone in the program's history. Dunkenberger is now 51-33 overall as WCU's head coach, after posting a 13-15 record in her first year and a 17-11 mark during the 2001-02 season.
As a team, Western finished the season third in the league in scoring with 68.3 ppg and fourth in scoring defense, giving up just 63.8 ppg. WCU ranked in the top half of the league in 12 other statistical categories, including finishing second in FG percentage (.431), 3-point FG percentage (.342) and 3-point FG defense (.309).
The 2002-03 season was loaded with highlights, including the Cats reaching their 20th win of the season against App State (2/25). It was the first time any team in the program's history had done so since the 1977-78 season. Western also pulled off a 73-69 upset at conference leader Chattanooga (2/6). It was the first time the program had defeated the Lady Mocs since the 1998-99 season when the Catamounts also went on the road and beat UTC, 59-57. Also making headlines was the fact that with a 14-4 league record, WCU entered the SoCon Championship higher than a fourth seed for the first time ever, earning the second seed in 2003.
A major contributing factor to the team's success this year are the individual efforts that make up the team as a whole. Junior Tiffany Hamm and sophomore Jennifer Gardner received All-Southern Conference honors for the first time in their careers after Hamm received the preseason nod. Freshman Kala Greene graced the All-Rookie team, making it the third straight year WCU was represented on the team.
Hamm was twice named the SoCon's Women's Basketball Player of the Week and was also named an Arby's/Catamount Student-Athlete of the Month for February. She finished the season averaging 13.4 ppg (fifth in SoCon) and 6.4 rpg (10th). She also ranked 12th in field goal percentage (45.9), 10th in free throw percentage at 78.3 percent to tie for eighth on WCU's single-season list, and fifth in defensive boards per game (4.61).
Gardner finished as the league's leading field goal shooter at 51.2 percent. She also ranked 13th in scoring (11.8 ppg), third in rebounding (7.7 rpg), 13th in free throw percentage (76.2), third in offensive boards per game (3.11) and sixth in defensive rebounds per game (4.57). She made 115 free throws on the season to tie for seventh on the school's single-season list. Gardner is on pace to finish her career in first in free throw percentage, currently shooting 79.7 percent, as well as first in field goal percentage, currently at 53 percent over two years. She was additionally named an Arby's/Catamount Student-Athlete of the Month for January.
Yoneko Allen garnered much recognition throughout the season. She was named to the Verizon Academic All-District III first team for her 3.98 GPA as a triple major in Sport Management, Business Administration & Law, and Marketing. She was named the league's first ever TIAA-CREF SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 11 and an Arby's/Catamount Student-Athlete of the Month for December.
Allen finished the season as the league leader in 3-point FG with 67, which ties the WCU single-season record, to average 2.39 per contest, which also ties the school's single-season record. She also attempted 187 shots from 3-point range on the season to set a WCU record. Allen additionally finished 13th in the SoCon for 3-point FG percentage at 35.8 percent, which ranks ninth on the WCU single-season list, 12th in scoring (11.8 ppg) and ninth in free throw percentage at 78.4 percent, which puts her in seventh on the single-season list. Her career 3-point FG total has now reached 113, placing her in third on Western's list. She has now racked up 335 attempts as well, to rank fourth on WCU's all-time list.
Janetta Heggins ended her career as a Catamount averaging 7.4 ppg and 4.4 rpg. She finished ninth in the league in assists per game at 2.86 and seventh in steals with 2.07 per contest. She came just six assists short of appearing on Western's all-time list, handing out 173 for her career. Her 58 steals on the season ranks 10th on the WCU single-season list. Heggins was named the TIAA-CREF SoCon student-athlete of the week on Feb. 21 for maintaining a 3.308 GPA in Sport Management and averaging 10 points and five rebounds in a week in which the Catamounts defeated conference rival College of Charleston to earn their 18th win of the season, one more than they saw all last year. Heggins had her best overall game of the season in the win over CofC with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a career-high eight steals. She also shot 6-of-7 from the line in the game for 85.7 percent.
Senior Marsha McGillivary finishes up her career with 519 points to average 5.1 ppg. She added 1.6 rpg, 1.0 apg and 0.7 spg. McGillivary pulled down a season-high four rebounds against Davidson in the SoCon tournament. She recorded one of her best games of the year against Wofford (2/3), with six points, three rebounds and two assists in just nine minutes. She also tied a career-high one block against Wofford on the road (1/4).
"Our seniors were key in helping turn this program around," applauded Dunkenberger. "They helped take Western from an average team to the top of the conference and they have much to be proud of."
Junior Christy Blackwell made her comeback year a stellar one, dishing out 79 assists on the season to give her 278 for her career, which ranks fifth on WCU's career list. She also grabbed 46 steals this year to give her 206 total and put her in sixth place for career takeaways. Blackwell finished the season ranked 14th in the league in steals per game at 1.64 and tied for 10th in assists, handing out 2.82 per contest.
Sophomore Ki-Ki Glass broke into the WCU record books for the second time in her two-year career after Western's game at Georgia Southern (2/10), dishing out two assists in the game, both coming in the first half, to place herself in 10th for career assists. She now has 190 total. Glass had possibly her best game of the year against St. Mary's when she scored five key points in the last 5:19 of the game to help Western get the three point win. She finished third on the team in assists per game with 2.61 per contest as well as third in steals per game at 1.1.
Western is losing only two Catamounts to graduation (McGillivary and Heggins) and returning eight key players, including four starters, and four others who were out most or all of the 2002-03 season due to injury. WCU leading scorer Tiffany Hamm returns to the lineup along with Western's leading rebounder Jennifer Gardner. Yoneko Allen and Ki-Ki Glass will return to the starting lineup and are backed up by Christy Blackwell, Melissa Ervin, Miranda Long and Kala Greene. Teyawna Hardy should appear in uniform for the first time next season after battling an ongoing injury. Joining her are Summer Thagard, Shaketia Barnes and Chantia Broderick.
"Championships are built in the off-season," Dunkenberger closed. "How hard we work in the off-season will determine how well we play come November."
