CULLOWHEE, N.C. – After a 54-43 victory over UNCW on Thursday, Western Carolina women’s basketball looks to carry that momentum into an afternoon showdown with Campbell on Saturday in Buies Creek. The matchup with the Camels will take place at Gore Arena and is set for a 2 p.m. tip-off. The game will be broadcast on FLO Hoops (paid subscription required), and live stats are available at CatamountSports.com.
Matchup: Western Carolina (2-2) at Campbell (2-1)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 18
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Gore Arena (Buies Creek, N.C.)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Live Video: FLO Hoops
Twitter: @CatamountWBB
Western Carolina got back in the win column on Thursday afternoon with a 54-43 victory over UNCW in Wilmington. The Catamounts were led in the win by graduate student Lonasia Brewer, who finished with 16 points as senior Audrey Meyers totaled a career-high 14 points for WCU. Senior Zanoria Cruz rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points.
Burton continues to pace WCU in the assist column with 21 helpers through the opening four games, which ranks second in the SoCon one behind the league leader. Burton also ranks 17th nationally with her 21 assists. The Spartanburg, S.C., native is fourth in the league in assist/turnover ratio at 1.5. Chelsea Wooten is tied for sixth in the SoCon with 10 assists. Wooten also sits in fourth with eight steals.
As a team, WCU sits atop the SoCon in blocks (13), assists (65) and steals (40). The Catamounts also sit second in the conference in offensive rebounds (54), defensive rebounds (98).
Campbell finished the 2022-23 season with a 16-15 record, which included a 10-8 mark in the Big South. The Camels fell in the second round of the Big South Championship to High Point. Following the 2022-23 season, Campbell became a member of the CAA, beginning with the 2023-24 season.
Campbell sits with a 2-1 record after a 74-49 loss to Virginia on Sunday afternoon. The Camels tallied wins over N.C. Wesleyan (108-37) and Coppin State (68-55) to begin the season.
Christabel Ezumah leads the Camels on the offensive end, averaging 13.7 points/game, as she’s connected on 72% (18-of-25) field goals. Ezumah also leads the way for Campbell on the glass, averaging 7.7 rebounds per contest. Brittany Staves has scored 12 ppg, making 8-of-15 three-pointers, leading the way for Campbell.
Campbell was tabbed 10th in the CAA Preseason Poll under the direction of Ronny Fisher, who’s in his eighth year at the helm for the Camels. Ezumah and Tuelle received honorable mention on the league’s preseason all-conference team announcement.
WCU and Campbell have squared off 23 times in program history before Saturday’s tilt, with the Camels holding a slim 12-11 lead in the head-to-head battle. Western Carolina picked up the 49-46 victory a season ago in Cullowhee as Kyla Allison led the way with 17 points, and Meyers added 11 points. Ewa Kielar led the Catamounts on the glass with eight rebounds in the victory.
Following Saturday’s action in Buies Creek, the Catamounts close out their four-game road trip on Wednesday, Nov. 22, with a trip to Durham to battle N.C. Central at 1 p.m… NCCU sits at 0-2 on the season as the Eagles face Mid-Atlantic Christian (Nov. 17) & Johnson & Wales (Nov. 19) before welcoming the Catamounts to town. The matchup with NCCU will be shown on NCCUSN, with live stats available on CatamountSports.com.
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