‘Cats 2-0 In SoCon Action, Down Western Carolina 62-51

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CULLOWHEE, N.C. — Behind another double-figure game from senior Alex Thompson (Asheville, N.C.), the Davidson women's basketball team opened up Southern Conference play 2-0 for the fourth straight year with a 62-51 win over Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats closed out their eight-game road swing in winning fashion.

Thompson eclipsed the double-digit mark in points for the sixth time this year with a game-best 19 points. She hit 6-of-10 field goals, including a trey, and was 6-for-9 from the charity stripe. The senior has hit for double figures in eight of the last 10 games dating back to last season.

The senior guard was joined in the double-figure column by Ashley Lax (Little Rock, Ark.), who has her own streak going as well. Finishing with 16 points, Lax has scored in double figures now five of the last six games. She was 6-of-14 from the floor, including draining three of the Wildcats' four treys for the game.

The guard duo helped Davidson (2-6, 2-0 SoCon) seal the win with four free throws in the last minute. The Wildcats went 6-for-10 overall in that closing minute to secure the win after Western Carolina had cut a 13-point lead down to five (56-51) with 2:14 remaining in the game.

A six-minute stretch about halfway through the second half where Davidson scored just three points, allowed the Catamounts (2-6, 1-1 SoCon) to chip away at the lead. Emily Clarke assisted in the rally with nine of her team-high 12 points and all 10 rebounds coming in the second half.

Thompson led the charge to start the game as she poured in 12 first-half points, five of them coming in a row that gave the 'Cats a 14-11 advantage they would never give back with 9:27 on the clock.

Fellow backcourt teammate Lax then got in on the scoring action, pushing the lead out to eleven when she scored eight straight points, including two three-balls. Her last trey from the left wing gave Davidson a 27-16 lead and forced Western Carolina to call a timeout.

Thompson capped off her scoring burst in the half with four of the last six Wildcat points, and fellow senior Monica Laune (Ashland, Neb.) closed the period with two free throws to send Davidson into intermission up 33-20.

Davidson's defense was also on display in the first half, forcing WCU to run the 35-second shot clock all the way down on many of its possessions, and holding the Catamounts to just 28 percent shooting (7-25). The Wildcats forced 11 turnovers in the period and 17 for the game.

WCU went on an 11-5 run to open the second half, bringing the Catamounts to within seven at 38-31 with 15:33 left.

Freshman Sophia Aleksandravicius (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) got the 'Cats back on track by scoring eight of the team's next 10 points. Her last bucket, a jumper from the baseline, gave Davidson a 51-38 lead. the freshman finished with eight points off the bench, matching Laune to give Davidson 16 of its 18 total bench points.

Davidson will return home to play Appalachian State in the 'Cats' home opener on Monday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.

Game Notes: Davidson's eight-game road trip to start the season was the longest in school history ... last year saw the Wildcats get off a 7-0 start in SoCon play, a school record ... Davidson has now won two of the last three meetings with Western ... head coach Annette Watts is just eight league wins away from hitting the 100-mark for her career.

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