western carolina 2009-10 CATAMOUNT WOMEN S BASKETBALL QUICK FACTS G e n e r a l I n f o r m a t i o n : Location:... Cullowhee, N.C.... (pronounced KULL-uh-wee) Founded:...1889 Enrollment:...9,000 Nickname:...Lady Catamounts School Colors:...Purple and Gold Affiliation:...NCAA Division I Conference:... Southern Chancellor:... Dr. John W. Bardo Director of Athletics:...Chip Smith Basketball Facility:...Ramsey Regional Activity Center (7,826) C o a c h i n g S t a f f : Head Coach:...Karen Middleton Alma Mater/Year:...South Carolina / 1991 Record at WCU:...First Year Career Record:...First year Assistant Coach:... Tre ka McMillian Alma Mater/Year:...South Carolina/ 1992 Assistant Coach:...Jonelle Streed Alma Mater/Year:... St. Cloud State / 2003 Assistant Coach:... Hillary Beck Alma Mater/Year:... Miami University / 2005 T e a m I n f o r m a t i o n : 2008-09 Overall Record:... 21-12 2008-09 SoCon Record/Finish:... 14-6 / 3rd Starters Returning/Lost:...2 / 3 Letterwinners Returning/Lost:...9 / 3 M e d i a R e l a t i o n s I n f o r m a t i o n : Dir. of Media Relations/WBball Contact:... Denise Gideon Alma Mater/Year:...Tennessee Media Relations Phone:... (828) 227-2336 Twitter:...http:twitter.com/catamounts Media Relations Fax:... (828) 227-7688 Press Row Phone:... (828) 227-2129 Cell Phone:... (828) 506-2249 Email Address:...dgideon@email.wcu.edu Mailing Address:...Western Carolina University Ramsey Center-Athletics Cullowhee, NC 28723 returning players # Name Class Ht. Pos. 3... Heather Swayne Senior 6-0 Guard 10. Jessica Jackson Senior 5-6 Guard 11. Diamond Hunnicutt Sopho 5-11 F/G 13. Emily Clarke Junior 5-10 G/F 21. Brittany Ferguson Sopho 5-10 Forward 22. Kaila Shea Menendez Sopho 5-8 Guard 33. Kristen Feemster Senior 6-0 Forward 35. Kendra Carroll Junior 5-8 Guard 42. TT Belecher Sopho 6-1 Forward players lost # Name Pts/G Reb/G Ast Stl 23. Lauren Powell 10.4 3.0 1.1.51 32. Brooke Johnson 10.9 7.4 4.6.72 44. Kendra Eaton 6.9 5.1.72.54 newcomers # Name hometown Ht. Pos. 2 Caitlin Hollifield Knoxville, Tenn. 6-1 F 5 Janae McKinney Columbus, Ga. 5-10 G/F 32 Richelle Price Mechanicsville, Va 6-1 F 40. Caroline Laugther Hickory, N.C. 5-9 G... 1
WESTERN CAROLINA LADY CATAMOUNTS 2009-10 ROSTER Numerical Roster # Name Ht. Pos. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School) 2 Caitlin Hollifield 6-1 F SO Knoxville, Tenn. (Alabama/Powell HS) 3 Heather Swayne 6-0 G SR Raleigh, N.C. (Wakefield HS) 5 Janae McKinney 5-10 G/F R-FR Columbus, Ga. (Kendrick HS) 10 Jessica Jackson 5-6 G SR Roswell, Ga. (South Florida / Roswell HS) 11 Diamond Hunnicutt 5-10 F/G SO Jonesboro, Ga. (Landmark Christian School).. 13 Emily Clarke 5-10 G/F JR Snellville, Ga. (Gwinnett HS) 21 Brittany Ferguson 5-10 F SO Macon, Ga. (Westside HS) 22 Kaila Shea Menendez 5-8 G SO Raleigh, N.C. (Wakefield HS) 32 Richelle Price 6-1 F FR Mechanicsville, Va. (Atlee HS) 33 Kristen Feemster 6-0 F SR Clover, S.C. (Clover HS) 35 Kendra Carroll 5-8 G JR Paintsville, Ky. (Paintsville Independent HS) 40 Caroline Laughter 5-9 G FR Hickory, N.C. (Tabernacle Christian School) 42 Tonquishae TT Belcher 5-11 F/C SO Concord, N.C. (Concord HS) Alphabetical Roster # Name Ht. Pos. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School) 42 Tonquishae TT Belcher 5-11 F/C SO Concord, N.C. (Concord HS) 35 Kendra Carroll 5-8 G JR Paintsville, Ky. (Paintsville Independent HS) 13 Emily Clarke 5-10 G/F JR Snellville, Ga. (Gwinnett HS) 33 Kristen Feemster 6-0 F SR Clover, S.C. (Clover HS) 21 Brittany Ferguson 5-10 F SO Macon, Ga. (Westside HS) 2 Caitlin Hollifield 6-1 F SO Knoxville, Tenn. (Alabama/Powell HS) 11 Diamond Hunnicutt 5-10 F/G SO Jonesboro, Ga. (Landmark Christian School) 10 Jessica Jackson 5-6 G SR Roswell, Ga. (South Florida / Roswell HS) 30 Brooke Johnson 6-4 C JR Seymour, Tenn. (Carson-Newman / Seymour HS) 40 Caroline Laughter 5-9 G FR Hickory, N.C. (Tabernacle Christian School) 5 Janae McKinney 5-10 G/F R-FR Columbus, Ga. (Kendrick HS) 22 Kaila Shea Menendez 5-8 G SO Raleigh, N.C. (Wakefield HS) 32 Richelle Price 6-1 F FR Mechanicsville, Va. (Atlee HS) 3 Heather Swayne 6-0 G SR Raleigh, N.C. (Wakefield HS) Head Coach: Karen Middleton / Assistant Coaches: Tre ka McMillian, Jonelle Streed, Hillary Beck Pronunciations: Tonquishea Belcher... TAWN-kwa-shay Caroline Laugther...LAW-ter Tre ka McMillian...TREY-ka Richelle Price... Re-shell 2
WESTERN CAROLINA LADY CATAMOUNTS 2009-10 SCHEDULE N o v e m b e r Nov. 7 TUSCULUM (EXHIBITION) CULLOWHEE 7 PM Nov. 13.. at University of Richmond Richmond, Va. TBD Nov. 15.. at East Carolina Greenville, N.C. 2 PM Nov. 20 *WOFFORD CULLOWHEE 7 PM Nov. 24-25.. University of Alaska Tournamet Anchorage, Alaska TBD. (Alaska, Coastal Carolina, Cincinnati) Nov. 29 JAMES MADISON CULLOWHEE 2 PM D e c e m b e r Dec. 2 UNC ASHEVILLE CULLOWHEE 5 PM Dec. 5 *DAVIDSON CULLOWHEE 2 PM Dec. 8.. at Charlotte Charlotte, N.C. TBD Dec. 12.. at Western Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. 4 PM Dec. 19.. *at Georgia Southern Statesboro, Ga. TBD Dec. 21.. *at Charleston Charleston, S.C. TBD Dec. 30.. at Florida State Tallahassee, Fla. TBD J a n u a r y Jan. 2 *FURMAN CULLOWHEE 2 PM Jan. 4 *APPALACHIAN STATE CULLOWHEE 7 PM Jan. 9 *ELON CULLOWHEE 2 PM Jan. 11.. *at UNC Greensboro Greensboro, N.C. TBD Jan. 16.. *at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tenn. TBD Jan. 18.. *at Samford Birminghanm, Ala. TBD Jan. 25.. *at Davidson Davidson, N.C. TBD Jan. 30 *GEORGIA SOUTHERN CULLOWHEE 2 PM F e b r u a r y Feb. 1 *CHARLESTON CULLOWHEE 7 PM FEB. 6.. *at Furman Greenville, S.C. 6 PM Feb. 8.. *at Appalachian State Boone, N.C. TBD Feb. 13.. *at Elon Elon, N.C. TBD Feb. 16 *UNC GREENSBORO CULLOWHEE NOON Feb. 20 *SAMFORD CULLOWHEE 2 PM Feb. 22 *CHATTANOOGA CULLOWHEE 7 PM Feb. 27.. *at Wofford Spartanburg, S.C. TBD March 4-8.. Southern Conference Tournament Charlotte, N.C. TBA BOLD - denotes home games * - denotes Southern Conference games ALL TIMES LISTED ARE LOCAL TIMES
WESTERN CAROLINA LADY CATAMOUNTS NOTES OF 2008-09 SEASON SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ALL-TOURNAMENT Tournament MVP Brooke Johnson, Western Carolina First Team Brooke Johnson, Western Carolina Second Team Emily Clarke, Western Carolina WCU ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS Brooke Johnson (Second Team SCSMA, Coaches) Kaila Shea Menendez (All-Freshman) SECOND TOURNAMENT TITLE IN FIVE YEARS: Western Carolina claimed the Southern Conference Tournament title for the second time in five years It was the Lady Catamounts third-straight year the club has reached the finals getting the win on the third try It is also the fifth time in six years Western Carolina has reached the finals. 13 SEED HIGHEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY: Western Carolina s No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament was the highest placement in the NCAA Tournament in school history The club is making its second appearance in The Big Dance In 2005 the Lady Catamounts were a No. 16 seed The No. 13 seed is the third-highest placement for a school from the Southern Conference Chattanooga drew a No. 10 seed in 2004, upsetting Rutgers, and there have been multiple No. 12 seeds. THE STREAK = 2O PLUS WINS: Western Carolina took a 10-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament before falling to Vanderbilt in the first round The streak lifted Western Carolina above the 20-win mark, making it the third straight season WCU has had 20 or more wins... The school record is 13 straight wins. POWELL, FREE THROWS AND THE PLAY : Senior Lauren Powell s pair of free throws in the final seconds of the first and second overtime session are what kept Western Carolina alive in the wild and crazy three-overtimes against College of Charleston in the finals of the SoCon Tourney Powell drew a foul with 1.8 seconds left in the first overtime and drained a pair of free throws to tie the game at 76 She then picked up a steal with 50 plus seconds left in the second overtime and was fouled, with WCU again down by two, and AGAIN hit both free throws to tie the game Powell ended the game with 19 points with six of her points coming in overtime. BROOKE JOHNSON PHENOMENAL IN TOURNEY, BREAKS BLOCK RECORD: Senior center Brooke Johnson was a huge part of Western Carolina s tournament victory For her efforts, she was named the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament MVP as well as a First Team All- Southern Conference Tournament selection She had back-to-back 20 plus point performances with 25 against Samford and 21 facing College of Charleston For the tournament, Johnson averaged 18.3 points per game and just missed averaging a double-double with nine rebounds per game Johnson also had nine blocks in the three games and broke the Western Carolina school record for blocks in a career, and currently has 130. LAST 21 GAMES OF THE SEASON: After starting the season 6-6, and suffering tough losses at Montana State and UNC Asheville, Western Carolina began 2009 with a 92-55 road win at Appalachian State The Lady Catamounts finished the regular season and NCAA tournament play 15-6 in its last 21 games And after going 0-5 on the road to start the year, the club was 6-2 in road contests to end the year WCU averaged 68.8 points per game in the last 21 games outscoring opponents by an average of 8.3 points per game The club also averaged 44.2 rebounds per game and held opponents to 35.5. THE 3 OT IN SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FINALS RE- CORD-SETTING: The three overtimes in the finals of the Southern Conference Tournament with Western Carolina and College of Charleston ties the 1993 ACC final as the longest championship game in Division I history, and it appears to be only the fifth 3OT in Division I conference tournament history (tied for the longest game). 3OT+ games in conference tournaments 1989 Big East quarterfinal (Villanova 82, St. John s 78), 3OT 1999 Atlantic 10 quarterfinal (Virginia Tech 73, Dayton 72), 3OT 3/8/93 ACC final (Virginia 106, Maryland 103), 3OT 3/3/06 C-USA quarterfinals (SMU 86, Tulane 84), 3OT 3/8/06 Southland semifinals (UTSA 76, at UT Arlington 75), 3OT TOURNAMENT FINAL NOTES AND SUCH: The three overtimes was the longest game in Southern Conference Tournament history Besting the two overtimes in 2005, when Western Carolina defeated Georgia Southern for its first tournament crown The 101 points scored by Western Carolina was the most this season The Lady Catamounts are now 14-14 in overtime games It was the third overtime game for WCU this season the club is 2-1 in OT games this year. FIVE CONFERENCE SWEEPS: Western Carolina notched five Southern Conference sweeps winning both games with Appalachian State, Elon, UNC Greensboro, Elon and Wofford The Lady Catamounts split with Davidson, College of Charleston, Chattanooga and Samford... Georgia Southern is the only conference team to earn a sweep over the Lady Catamounts.
HEAD COACH KAREN MIDDLETON Karen Middleton was named the 10th head coach of Western Carolina Women s Basketball on May 15, 2009. Prior to coming to Western Carolina, Middleton spent two years as an assistant at Illinois. While at Illinois, Middleton helped coach the Illini to 20 wins in 2007-08. The Illinois guards had a succesful season with the assistance of Middleton, as Lori Bjork earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and Rebecca Harris had a strong second half of the season that was capped by being selected to the Big Ten All Tournament Team. In addition to leading the Orange and Blue to on-the-court success, Middleton also helped Head Coach Jolette Law and staff, sign the No. 3 recruiting class in the country, according to ESPN HoopGurlz, during the fall of 2008. Before her stint at Illinois, Middleton spent 10 years as an assistant coach at Stanford University, where she handled off-campus recruiting and scouting for head coach Tara VanDerveer. She also played a role in player development, working mainly with the perimeter players. Middleton Notes Education: South Carolina, 1991 Coaching Experience South Carolina, Assistant Coach (1992-94) Eastern Washington University, Assistant Coach (1994-97) Stanford, Assistant Coach (1997-2007) Illinois, Assistant Coach (2007-09) Western Carolina, Head Coach (2009-present) Championships: At Stanford (Asst. Coach), (Eight Pac-10 Conference Tournanment titles and 10 NCAA Appearances) While at Stanford, she helped the Cardinal to eight Pac-10 conference titles and 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including four Sweet Sixteens and three Elite Eights. She also coached three Kodak All-Americans (Candice Wiggins, Nicole Powell and Kristin Folkl), two Pac-10 Players of the Year (Wiggins and Powell), and 11 players that went on to play in the WNBA. Prior to Stanford, Middleton served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Eastern Washington University (1994-97) and as an assistant coach the University of South Carolina (1992-94). Middleton attended and played at the University of South Carolina, where she was a four-year letterwinner from 1988-1991. She was a team captain, team MVP and a two-time All-Metro Conference selection during her career and finished as the fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,714 points. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and also earned an Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Physical Education from South Carolina in 1993. Playing Experience: College: South Carolina (1988-91) WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT KAREN MIDDLETON Jolette Law, Illinois Head Coach The administrators at Western Carolina have a keen eye for talent and for selecting winners. Like the coaches who ve come before her, Karen will quickly earn the respect of the players and fan base. Karen patiently waited for the right opportunity to return to the Carolinas, landing at Western is like a homecoming of sorts. Without a doubt I can say that Karen s knowledge, experience and respect for how the game should be played is certain to keep Western Carolina at the top of the Southern Conference. Great hire! Tara VanDerveer, Stanford Head Coach Karen Middleton is very knowledgeable, hardworking and a caring coach. Karen will be an exceptional mentor for her players. The women on the team will grow, improve and thoroughly enjoy playing for her. Karen will continue the outstanding tradition of women s basketball excellence and will be a great representative of Western Carolina. Beth Dunkenberger, Virginia Tech Head Coach Western Carolina made a terrific hire with Karen Middleton. She has been an integral part of Top 25 programs both as a player and as an assistant coach and knows what winning is all about. With Karen leading the way, I have no doubt that the Catamounts will continue to carry on their championship tradition. Nancy Wilson, College of Charleston Head Coach Karen is one of the nicest people and one of the most dedicated players that I have coached. Because of this I chose her to be on my staff at South Carolina when she was just out of college. I have followed her career with interest because I knew she had the traits to be one of the best. Western Carolina has made a great hire and I am thrilled that she is back in the south. Debbie Antonelli, Women s Basketball Analyst Karen s career path to becoming a head coach has been a diligent and detailed process. She has worked and prepared through each experience with some of the best coaches in the game. She will bring a well prepared game plan and will run a first-class program at Western Carolina.