CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Campbell women's basketball team used a smothering defense to limit Western Carolina to 27.7 pct. from the field in a 55-40 victory at the Ramsey Center. Freshman guard Zena Lovette (High Point, N.C.) scored a game-high 15 points as the Lady Camels improved to 2-0 on the season.
Seven Campbell players tallied a field goal as senior guard Tonisha Baker (High Point, N.C.) chipped in eight points, while junior Monique Spry (Wilson, N.C.) and sophomore guard Kiera Gaines (Mechanicsville, Va.) added seven points each against Western Carolina (1-1).
For the second-straight game, Campbell held a decisive advantage, 39-27, on the glass as Gaines pulled down nine as each player that checked in recorded a rebound. Junior guard Ashley James (Round Rock, Texas) registered six rebounds.
The Lady Camels shot 41.7 pct. for the game and were strong down the stretch as Lovette made four-straight free throws to preserve the win. Campbell totaled 24 points in the paint, but the Catamounts transitioned well by scoring 19 off of turnovers, 15 of which came in their second half rally that closed the deficit to eight.
Neither team was able to pull away though the first two media timeouts, but a layup and three-point field goal from Spry at 10:56 jump started a 13-2 run that put the Lady Camels comfortably into the lead. Senior forward Jazmine Cooper (Fayetteville, N.C.) laid in a bucket to complete the run with 6:57 left, which forced a WCU timeout.
After the Catamounts cut the lead to eight, 23-15, freshman guard RaeChaun Edwards (Spring, Grove, Va.) hit a three and Gaines put in a layup at the buzzer, 27-15. The Catamounts were limited to 21.6 pct. from the field in the first as Campbell forced nine turnovers including two steals each by Baker and Lovette.
Coming out of halftime, the game turned into the Baker show as the High Point, N.C., native scored the first six Lady Camels points including back-to-back fastbreak layups in the first minute.
A 7-0 run lifted Campbell to its largest lead of the night, 39-20, with 11:45 left. Then the Catamounts upped the pressure on defense with a press that closed the gap to 42-36 with 4:50 left following a free throw by Ali Lang.
The freshman point guard, Lovette, drilled a three at the end of the shot clock at 4:29 to put the Lady Camels back on top by nine.
From there, the teams traded layups and Lovette made four-clutch free throws at the end of the contest to secure the 55-40 victory.
WCU was led by Rena Wakama and Ali Lang, who scored 14 and 10 points, respectively. Alex Abraham had a game-high four assists.
The Lady Camels are back in action on Friday at 5:15 p.m. against N.C. Central inside Gore Arena/John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center. The contest will be broadcasted by the Big South Sports Network with Leah Kulp providing the commentary. Fans can find links to live stats, audio and video on the women's basketball schedule page.
