CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Despite a combined 26 points from guards Heather Jankowy and Madison Floyd, Anderson University women's basketball dropped its final preseason exhibition to Division I Western Carolina, 72-55, Sunday afternoon at the Ramsey Center.
The exhibition was the Trojans' final tune-up before opening the regular season on Saturday at archrival Erskine. With the setback, AU closes the preseason with an even 1-1 record following its stunning victory over Clemson last Sunday at the Abney Center. With the victory, the Catamounts earn their second victory of the their regular season.
Jankowy led the Black and Gold with 16 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 mark from the free throw line, while Floyd followed with her second consecutive game in double figures with 10 points. Senior forward Jennifer Monroe and freshman post Erika Martin grabbed a team-high seven rebounds apiece, as Monroe followed the guard tandem with eight points on 3-of-6 from the field.
As a team, the Trojans struggled in the opening period, finishing the first 20 minutes 6-for-24 (25.0 percent) from the floor and 0-for-9 from behind the 3-point line. Despite the poor start, Anderson bounced back by shooting 40.7 percent (11-for-27) from the field and 5-for-12 (41.7 percent) from behind the arc in the second half.
Western Carolina, which added its second win over a South Atlantic Conference opponent this season, was led by guard Ace Easter with 16 points, while substitutes Julia Brown and Mika Wester added 12 and 11 points, respectively. As a team, the Catamounts shot 45 percent (27-for-60) from the field and took advantage of 31 points off of Anderson's turnovers. In addition, WCU controlled the paint, scoring 38 of the team's 72 points inside the lane.
After junior Alexis Dillard opened the game's scoring to give the visitors a quick 2-0 lead, Western Carolina scored the next 10 points and never looked back. Dillard's basket came at the 9:38 mark, but AU would not score again until the six-minute mark in the first quarter. The Trojans closed the first quarter facing their largest deficit of the preseason of 10 points (20-10).
Falling behind early, Anderson drew even with WCU in second-quarter points, as both teams scored 12 points, setting the halftime score at 32-22. Floyd opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer for the wing, but the Catamounts responded by out-scoring AU 25-19 in the third period.
Anderson squares off with the Flying Fleet on Saturday seeking its 14 straight victory in the longstanding rivalry. Tip-off from Due West is scheduled for 6 p.m.
