MARCH 1, 2003

FURMAN FALLS 58-56 TO WESTERN CAROLINA

Cullowhee, N.C. - Junior Tiffany Hamm scored the final five points for the Lady Catamounts to lift Western Carolina past Furman, 58-56, Saturday in WCU's final regular-season game. With the win, Western improves to 21-6 overall, its most regular-season wins ever, and 14-4 in the SoCon, securing the second place seed heading into next week's Southern Conference Championship. The Paladins fall to 15-12 overall and 11-7 in the league, entering the tournament as the fourth seed.

The game started off slowly as neither team scored until the 17:28 mark when Furman's Tommi Paris made a lay-up to open scoring. The Paladins led by as many as five on a jumper by Deshara Shealey at 11:51 to make the score 10-5. The Catamounts brought the Paladins' lead down to one at 10-9 on a 2-pointer by freshman Kala Greene and again by Hamm to make the score 12-11 before Hamm knotted the game for the first time on two made free throws with 3:44 left in the half. Furman's Laney Harris hit a 3-pointer at 2:53 to put the Paladins up by three, but two free throws by Greene and a lay-up by Christy Blackwell put Western on top for the first time in the game, 19-18. A trey by Yoneko Allen gave the Cats a 22-20 lead, but a lay-up by Harris and one from Kim Lawrence sent Furman into the lockerroom with a 24-22 lead.

There were nine ties in the second half alone, the fourth one coming on a jumper by Hamm, two of her game-leading 21 points, to make the score 32 all. The Cats' first lead of the half came on a driving lay-up by Allen at 11:17, making the score 36-35. However, the Paladins fought back as Shealey hit a 3-pointer to give them the two-point lead at 10:24. Furman would stay ahead for the next three and a half minutes until Hamm scored a lay-up to put WCU back on top. She came through again for the Cats, making the 2-point play to mark the score at 57-56 with 19 seconds on the game clock. Furman called two consecutive time-outs to plan their attack, but a missed jumper and then a foul on Shealey sent Hamm to the line and she scored one of her two free throws to give the Catamounts the 58-56 victory.

Jennifer Gardner led Western defensively, pulling down 11 rebounds in the game, while Blackwell dished out a game-high five assists. Allen and Greene posted 12 and 10 points, respectively, and Heggins had a team-high four steals in the effort.

Lawrence led the Paladins with 14 points, adding a team-high four steals, along with Paris' four. Shealey recorded 12 points, while Harris had 10. Katie Roach led Furman with nine rebounds.

The Catamounts and Paladins both begin preparations for the SoCon Championship, which begins on Wednesday, March 5. Furman plays fifth seeded UNC Greensboro on Thursday, March 6, at 11:00 am, while Western Carolina faces either Davidson or Wofford in a 5:00 pm tip-off on Thursday.