CULLOWHEE, N.C. - - NCAA Division I Western Carolina University outscored visiting NCAA Division II UVa-Wise 22-13 in the fourth quarter to claim a 64-55 exhibition victory in women's basketball at the Ramsey Center Tuesday.
Reigning Southern Conference Freshman of the Year Jewel Smalls tallied a double-double in the win by scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds. Smalls was one of four Catamounts who finished in double figures. Teammate Judith Martin Ruiz scored a game-high 18 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter to help seal the deal for first-year coach Kiley Hill who was making his Western Carolina debut on the sideline.
UVa-Wise saw redshirt junior Kalee Johnson score all of her team-high 14 points in the first three quarters of play.
The Cavaliers held a two point lead at 49-47 with 7:28 to play when senior Cynita Webb completed a conventional 3-point play. From there, Jamie Cluesman's squad would be held scoreless for the next four minutes and 20 seconds as the Catamounts built a 57-49 lead.
Sophomore Mackenzie King drilled a 3-pointer to make it a five point game with 2:40 to play only to see Martin Ruiz counter with a 3-point basket of her own to deliver the knockout blow.
For the game, UVa-Wise shot 35.9 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from the 3-point line. Johnson finished a rebound shy of a double-double as her nine rebounds tied Webb for team-high honors in the category.
Junior Hanna Oliver made a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 11 points while King also netted 11 in defeat.
The game featured seven lead changes and four ties. Thanks to 17 offensive rebounds, UVa-Wise posted 14 second chance points and 26 points in the contest.
Western Carolina finished the game shooting 42.1 percent from the floor; Tembre Moates came off the bench to finish 5-of-6 en route to 10 points.
The game marked the first time since 2017 that the Cavs had played an NCAA Division I program.
Next up, UVa-Wise will begin regular season play Friday at Limestone. Tip from Gaffney, S.C. is slated for 7:30 p.m.
