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Lady Cat basketball team to start season at home Friday
Western Carolina’s women’s basketball team will host Detroit Mercy in its season-opener at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ramsey Center.
The Lady Cats finished first in the Southern Conference regular season standings last year and set a school record with 24 wins.
“The players and coaches are so ready to get back on the court and get the season started,” said Coach Kellie Harper, who is preparing for her fourth season. “We have our goals set pretty high, and I think the players are very motivated to achieve them.”
Nine players, including four starters, return from a year ago. Senior Monique Dawson earned all-conference honors after averaging 11.8 points and 3.3 assists.
She was joined on the preseason all-conference team by senior Chevon Keith and junior Brooke Johnson. Keith averaged 8.3 points and led the club in field goal percentage (.467). Johnson, a transfer from Carson-Newman, became eligible at midseason and averaged 14.7 points.
Junior Lauren Powell is back after averaging 11.9 points.
Other returnees include seniors Ashley Pellom and Jessika Johnson, junior Kendra Eaton, and sophomores Heather Swayne and Kristen Feemster.
Freshmen Kendra Carroll and Emily Clarke join the team.
In a preseason coaches’ poll, Western was picked second in the league, behind Chattanooga.
Harper got to see her team in action for the first team last Thursday as the Lady Cats toppled Carson-Newman 88-54 in an exhibition game at the Ramsey Center. Brooke Johnson scored 17 points against her former team. The freshmen, Carroll and Clarke, scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, and Jessika Johnson added 10.
The schedule is as follows:
Nov. 9 – Detroit Mercy; 11 – at Clemson; 16 – at Minnesota; 17 – Louisville at Minnesota; 28 – UNC-Asheville.
Dec. 2 – at Middle Tennessee; 8 – Wake Forest; 14 – at Hawaii; 15 – Oregon State at Hawaii; 17 – Tennessee Tech at Hawaii; 20 – Chattanooga; 30 – at N.C. State.
Jan. 3 – at UNC-Wilmington; 5 – at Davidson; 7 – at Appalachian State; 12 – UNC-Greensboro; 14 – Elon; 19 – at Wofford; 21 – at Furman; 26 – at Georgia Southern; 28 – College of Charleston.
Feb. 2 – Davidson; 4 – Appalachian State; 9 – at UNC-G; 11 – at Elon; 16 – Wofford; 18 – Furman; 23 – Georgia Southern; 25 – at College of Charleston; 28 – at Chattanooga.
March 6-10 – Southern Conference Tournament at Charleston, S.C.
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