WCU wins Southern Conference tourney
Seniors Brooke Johnson and Lauren Powell had 40 points and 20 rebounds between them – Johnson was named tourney MVP – but it was their clutch play in the extra periods that led Western to the win. Johnson and Powell combined for 20 in OT.
Cougars coach Nancy Wilson said afterwards it was a game of well-executed situations by both sides, and Powell had one for the ages. Near the end of the first extra period Western trailed by two, 76-74, with 1.8 seconds remaining, and was inbounding the ball an improbable 94 feet from the Cougar basket.
There was hardly time to turn and shoot, even assuming a long pass could be made.
So when WCU coach Kellie Harper saw that Charleston would defend the Catamount who was to throw the ball in, she sent Powell sprinting downcourt, and told her in-bounds passer (Emily Clarke) to run the baseline (the inbounds passer can move along the baseline after a made basket).
Cougar defender Brooke Kotcella likewise ran along the baseline, focused on Clarke, and Powell slipped in unnoticed, set her feet, and was bowled over by Kotcella. Foul. Two shots at the other end for Powell, who calmly drained them both, forcing the second overtime.
An extraordinary play.
The Catamounts improve to 21-11 with the win, and move on to the NCAA tournament. Charleston drops to 23-8.
WCU has played in three straight league title games and five of the last six.
Read John Frierson’s column about Powell in the Chattanooga Times Free Press here.
View video of Powell’s play (and others) here (Powell is misidentified as Clarke in one segment):
Read game stories from:
catamountsports.com
Asheville Citizen-Times
Charleston Post and Courier
College of Charleston athletics
Tags: Asheville Citizen Times, Catamounts, Charleston Post and Courier, Chattanooga Times-Free Press, kellie harper, Southern Conference, Western Carolina University, western carolina women
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