CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- Western Carolina University defeated Tusculum University 86-45 in women's basketball Sunday afternoon at the Ramsey Center. The game was an exhibition contest for the Pioneers, while the Catamounts improved to 2-0 with the win.
Josie Horner led the Pioneers with 11 points, while Aisha Patel added 10 points in 20 minutes off the Tusculum bench. The Pioneers shot 27.3 percent (15-for-55) from the field and 2-for-16 from three-point range as a team.
Taj Hunter led the Catamounts with 18 points, with 15 points apiece off the bench from Betsey Burnett and Kehinde Obasuyi. Ally Hollifield added 10 points and Joyce Mulimba and Justice Zimmerman recorded 12 rebounds each for Western Carolina, which outrebounded Tusculum 60-33 and had 27 offensive rebounds as a team.
The Catamounts shot 40.5 percent (32-for-79) from the field, including 5-for-20 on three-pointers, and were 17-for-24 at the foul line. Western Carolina scored 23 points off 20 Tusculum turnovers and had 25 second-chance points along with 20 fast-break points.
Ema Nagyova had six points for the Pioneers, with five points from Martina Garofalo and four points each from Artasia Cole and Angela Gomez. Cole did not have a turnover in 23 minutes of playing time, while Gomez recorded a team-high five assists. Dora Van Rijs led Tusculum with six rebounds to go along with a pair of steals.
Tusculum will open its 2025-26 regular season schedule on Friday, Nov. 14 when the Pioneers visit 24th-ranked Columbus State University for a 5:30 p.m. start as part of the Region Challenge hosted next weekend by the Cougars.
