Feb. 28, 2008

SALISBURY, NC -- Senior Sicilia LoSauro (Oviedo, FL/Oviedo HS) scored a career-high 27 points in her final home game to lead Catawba to an 87-73 win over visiting Carson-Newman in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday night at Goodman Gym. The Catawba Indians improve to 11-15 overall and 4-10 in the SAC, while the Lady Eagles fall to 14-12 and 7-6.

Carson-Newman held a 27-20 lead in the first half, but Catawba scored 18 points in the final six minutes to grab a 38-31 edge at the break. LoSauro scored 19 of her points in the opening frame, hitting on seven-of-10 shots and three-of-five three-pointers.

The Lady Eagles pulled within one on two occasions in the second half, but a three-point play by Cristi Bartlett (Camden, NC/Camden HS) ignited a 12-2 run that was capped by consecutive three-pointers by Brooke Whitley (New London, NC/N. Stanley HS) that put Catawba up 63-52 with 9:52 remaining. After C-N had pulled to within 63-57 a seven-point spurt pushed the lead to 13 and the Lady Eagles never cut the deficit to single digits.

LoSauro canned nine-of-16 shots, including five three-pointers. Whitley followed with her career-best of 17 points. Shari Buford (Hampton, GA) posted a double-double for the Lady Eagles with 14 points and 11 boards. Tykira McDaniel (Griffin, GA) led the scoring with 17 points, while Emily Mason (Rogersville, AL) added 16.