Western Carolina's women's basketball team fell
to 1-3 with a pair of losses over the Thanksgiving weekend in
the Texas-San Antonio Hampton Inn Classic.
Texas-El Paso downed the Lady Cats 74-66 Saturday after dropping
a 65-64 decision to Denver on Friday.
Ana Valtierra scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for
UTEP. Noni Wharemate, Carnette Phelps and Angie McGee all had
11 points.
WCU's Tiffany Hamm tied her career high with 28 points for the
second time this season. Yoneko Allen added 21 points, and Jennifer
Gardner had 10.
The Lady Miners led 45-30 at intermission.
Western scored the first eight points of the second half, but
UTEP recovered to build a 66-50 lead.
The Lady Cats put together 14 unanswered points, including six
by Gardner, to close within 66-64. Angie McGee responded with
a three point play helping the Lady Miners regain control.
UTEP made 38.8 percent of its field goal tries compared to WCU's
35.2 percent.
The Lady Miners dominated the boards 45-35. Gardner topped Western
with seven rebounds.
Christy Blackwell had four steals for the Lady Cats.
Blackwell added four points, and Lori Tanner had three.
UTEP turned the ball over 19 times while WCU had 13 miscues.
Denver
Louise Gronemann's only basket of the second half proved to
be the game-winner as Denver edged WCU 65-64. Her jumper with
nine seconds left followed a Western turnover.
Allen missed a desperation shot at the buzzer.
Ragan Neblett paced the Lady Pioneers with 17 points, and Tasha
Jones had 14.
Allen led the Lady Cats with 17 points, and Sigita Maleraite
had 13. Hamm, who went over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for
her career, netted 12 points. Gardner finished with 10.
Western was unable to hold a three-point lead late in the game.
The Lady Cats led most of the half and were on top 30-26 at
intermission.
Blackwell dished out five assists.
Both teams had 31 rebounds. Hamm and Maleraite led WCU with
six apiece. Jones, Tyesha Lowery and Laura Granzow all had four
to lead Denver.
The Lady Pioneers committed 22 turnovers and Western had 18.
Completing the WCU scoring were May with nine and Blackwell
with three.
