Western Carolina 67, North Carolina Central 55

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Three players scored in double figures as Western Carolina women’s basketball (2-2) defeated North Carolina Central (0-4) 67-55 Tuesday in the Ramsey Center.

Sophomore Ali Lane and junior Rena Wakama each poured in 12 points and sophomore Makensey Campbell added 10 points in the win, marking the first time this season the Catamounts have had three players score in double figures. The 67 points is also the most points scored by Western Carolina this season. The Catamounts have also held each of its first four opponents under 60 points.

After a couple of lead changes, in a tight game, in the first 12 minutes, the game was tied at 21 with 5:22 left in the first half. Campbell drained a three pointer to give Western Carolina a 24-21 lead and started a 15-0 run by the Catamounts to close out the half.

North Carolina Central came out in the second half and seemed to find some rhythm. The Eagles cut the Catamount lead to 10, 39-29 on an 8-2 run to start the final 20 minutes. Western Carolina had an answer thanks to a jumper by redshirt senior Diamond Hunniuctt to push the Catamount lead back to 12, 41-29.

Western Carolina built its largest lead of the game of 18, 55-37 with 7:08 left thanks to another jumper by Hunnicutt. After Hunnicutt’s bucket, Western Carolina hit a bit of an offensive lull affording North Carolina Central to claw back into the game, as the Eagles went on a 9-0 run to cut the Catamount lead to single digits, 55-46 with 3:56 left.

Alex Abraham hit a field goal to push the Catamount lead back to double digits, 11, 57-46. A pair of free throws by Eagles’ Tiffany Gary again had the Western Carolina lead down to nine, 57-48. Catamount guard Ali Lane answered with a lay-up and it all but iced the game for Western Carolina.

In the final minute of the game, Western Carolina was 8-of-10 from the free throw line to seal the game. Lane pushed herself to double digit scoring by hitting 5-of-6 free throw attempts in the remaining 46 seconds of the game. Overall, Lane was 5-of-7 from the charity stripe.

Overall, Western Carolina was 12-of-20 from the free throw line and shot 47.2 percent from the field. North Carolina Central shot 51.2 percent from the field but was just 2-of-5 from the three point line while the Catamounts were 5-of-12 from behind the three-point stripe.

The Catamounts had just 10 turnovers in the game and forced North Carolina Central to give up the ball 19 times. Western Caroline just edged the Eagles in rebounding 27-26.

Lane not only tied for the lead in scoring, with 12, she also paced the team in rebounds with six. Campbell added three steals to her 10 points and Wakama also had two assists with her 12 points.

Western Carolina continues its four-game home stand at 7 p.m. November 27 when it hosts UCS Upstate.

Appalachian State 84, Gardner-Webb 43

Boone, NC –  The Appalachian State women's basketball team scored their second home victory of the season, defeating Gardner-Webb 84-43 on Tuesday night at the Holmes Center.

The Mountaineers (2-1) entered halftime with a comfortable 24 point lead against the Runnin' Bulldogs (3-2), as they shot 51.4 percent from the field.

Courtney Freeman took the reigns early and set the pace, shooting 7-11 from the field, leading the first half scoring with 14 points. App State began to pull ahead early in the half setting a 10-5 lead with 15:57 remaining in the half. A series of offensive plays would follow to expand App's lead to nine (14-5) just two minutes later (13:57), but a strong run 12:67 into the half strengthened the Mountaineer lead to 23 (40-17).

Gardner-Webb's leading scoring, Catrina Green, contributed six points in the first period, but the Bulldogs failed to trim the deficit. They shot just 32 percent (8-25) in the first half, and were only 16.7 percent (1-6) from the line.

With thirty-one seconds remaining, Raven Gary connected on a three to put App at a 43-19 lead into halftime.

Michelle Taylor opened the second half scoring on a free-throw to continue the Mountaineers' lead (44-19). The Apps would go on 10-0 run later in the period to make it a 84-41 game. A free-throw shot by GWU's Doreen Richardson in the final 25 seconds of play would close out the game at 84-43 for Appalachian to grab the win.

Courtney Freeman led the team in scoring with 26 points, and grabbed five rebounds in the contest. Anna Freeman recorded a double-double, pouring in 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Gardner-Webb was led by Catrina Green, who scored ten points and nabbed eight rebounds, while Jasmine Dale added ten points of her own.

Despite a hard-fought effort, the Bulldogs felt short scoring just 24 points in the second half and shooting 31.4 8 percent (8-26) in the game, compared to Appalachian State, who shot 47.2 percent (34-72) on the night and capitalized on free throws points, nailing 13-14 (92.9 percent).

Up next, Appalachian State heads to Greenville, N.C., where they face Campbell on November 24 and Norfolk State on the 25th in the ECU Pirate Invitational Thanksgiving Tournament.