Cullowhee, NC – Southern Wesleyan dropped their exhibition game to Western Carolina in a 70-37 final score.

Southern Wesleyan shot 26.8% from the field in the loss to Western Carolina.  Emily Waters led the team with 13 points, she was followed by Tanayja Williams with 10.  Five Warriors posted assists in the loss.  The Warriors had 33 rebounds, with Lisana Burnett leading the team with 11.  Burnett recorded four of the 13 steals.  Halee Morrison recorded the lone block of the evening.

Game Vitals

Final: Western Carolina 70, Southern Wesleyan 37

Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-12 / CC 1-6) Western Carolina (3-12)

How It Happened

Western Carolina struck first in the exhibition game on Monday evening, taking a 2-0 lead on a layup by Tembre Moates.  However, Southern Wesleyan countered as Emily Waters passed the ball up to Lisana Burnett who laid the ball up to tie the game at two.  A free throw by Brooke Henricks put the Warriors on top, but the lead was short lived as Moates put up a layup to put the Catamounts up 6-5.  The Catamounts pushed ahead, going on a nine-point run to take a 15-5 point advantage.

The Catamounts struck first in the second quarter on a layups by Moates to take a 22-7 advantage over the Warriors.  Emily Waters sunk free throws to put the Warriors on the board in the second quarter.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge with back-to-back layups by Brooke Henricks and Tanayja Williams to make the score 13-24.  Western Carolina continued to push ahead on back-to-back 3-point jump shots.  A last second three pointer by Caroline Reese put the Warriors down 23-37 at the half.

Western Carolina kicked off the third quarter, but a jump shot by Emily Waters kept Southern Wesleyan close.  Waters put the ball up two more times, but the Catamounts countered with a 3-pointer by Lauren LaPlant and a jumper by Judith Martin Ruiz to give Western a 46-29 point advantage.  Western Carolina continued to distance themselves from Southern Wesleyan, taking a 30-point lead by the end of the third quarter.

Southern Wesleyan put up the first basket of fourth quarter on a layup by Lisana Burnett.  Western Carolina put up several free throws and layups, but the Warriors continued to challenge as Tanayja Williams scored a layup off a pass from Halee Morrison.  Back-to-back jump shots allowed the Catamounts to further lengthen their lead.  A last second layup by Madi Hartgrove allowed the Warriors to finish up the game behind the Catamounts 37-70.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on January 8 and January 11.  The Warriors will take on the North Greenville Crusaders in Tigerville, SC on January 8 at 5:30.  They will remain on the road on January 11 as they travel to Belmont, NC to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at 5:30.