In the longest game in Southern Conference tournament history, Western Carolina still had the energy to celebrate at the end. And nobody’s smile was bigger than Lauren Powell’s.
Monday afternoon at McKenzie Arena, Powell hit tying free throws to force second and third overtimes, and in the third extra period third-seeded Western Carolina finally put away the College of Charleston, 101-87, for the SoCon title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
“If the game’s on the line, I want Lauren Powell taking the shot — free throw or regular shot. That’s how much confidence I have in her,” Western Carolina coach Kellie Harper said.
Before Powell could take the shots with 1.8 second left and the Catamounts (21-11) down 76-74 in the first overtime, she first had to get to the line. Charleston, the No. 4 seed, took the lead on a Sarah Moye baseline jumper.
Following a Catamounts timeout, Powell stood near the Cougars’ baseline and drew a charge from Charleston’s Brooke Kotcella, who was guarding on the inbounds play and never saw Powell standing there.
It was a designed play that Powell, a senior, has practiced hundreds of times during her career, Harper said. She’s also practiced countless free throws, but never had the pressure been greater than when she stepped to the line with the season at stake.
“That was the most pressure I’ve ever had in my life,” said Powell, who totaled 19 points and seven rebounds.
It didn’t show as she swished both free throws.
In the second overtime, Charleston (23-8) led 85-80 with 1:59 to play following another Moye baseline jumper. Powell came through again seconds later, perhaps not in the way she planned, when she banked in a 3-pointer from the left wing.
With less than a minute remaining and the Cougars up 85-83, Charleston’s Nikki Williams deflected a pass and Jade Hughes grabbed the loose ball near midcourt, only to have Powell steal it back. Hughes then fouled Powell with 46.1 seconds left.
Again, Powell made both free throws and the teams gave the small crowd of 943 more free basketball.
Western Carolina outscored Charleston 16-2 in the third overtime. The Cougars’ only basket in that period was a Deidra Jones layup that put them in front 87-86. Just 19 seconds later, the Catamounts took the lead for good on Heather Swayne’s 3-pointer with 3:27 to play.
“When we looked counted out, we came roaring back. When they looked counted out, they came roaring back,” Charleston coach Nancy Wilson said. “It was just a tremendous game.”
Charleston led by 12 at halftime and by 15 early in the second half, but the Cougars went cold and the Catamounts got hot during the next 14 minutes. Western Carolina went on a 36-13 run and led 61-53 with 5:36 remaining in regulation following a Powell 3-pointer.
Ericka Williams hit two 3s in the closing minutes to keep the Cougars in it, and Tonia Gerty tied the game at 70 with two seconds left to force overtime.
Western Carolina’s Brooke Johnson, the tournament MVP, had a game-high 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Emily Clarke hit four 3s after halftime and scored 18 points.
Gerty led the Cougars with 20 points and eight assists, Hughes added 19 points and Moye had 18 points and eight rebounds in Charleston’s first tournament final appearance. Jones, who hit the game-winner to beat the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the semifinals, had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Monday’s win one-ups the Catamounts’ previous tournament championship, which also came at McKenzie Arena. In 2005, WCU edged Georgia Southern 97-95 in double overtime.
John Frierson is in his fifth year at the Times Free Press and fifth year covering University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics. The bulk of his time is spent covering Mocs football, but he also writes about women’s basketball and the big-picture issues and news involving the athletic department. A native of Athens, Ga., John grew up a few hundred yards from the University of Georgia campus. Instead of becoming a Bulldog he attended Ole ...
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