Lamitie Enjoying Her Senior Season

Currently, the Catamounts are 5-2 in the Southern Conference after having won six of their last eight games. With four juniors, and only two seniors, the young Catamounts believe that this could be the year they return to the top of the SoCon and to the NCAA Tournament.One of the two seniors playing for the Lady Cats is Alabama native Lynsie Lamitie. She is enjoying every minute of the ride that she has taken with the Lady Cats. Transferring from Gadsden State Community College in Alabama, Lamitie’s two seasons at WCU have made her feel like she is not a senior on the youth-ridden Catamounts. “Coming from a junior college, makes me not really feel like a senior on this team. Erin May is our only true, four-year senior. She does a great job as a leader, and I sort of serve as her sidekick,” Lamitie said. At Gadsden State, Lamitie paced her team to back-to-back Alabama Community College Championships. She averaged 9.5 points in her two seasons with the Cardinals. Now at Western, Lamitie has helped the Catamounts win their last three Southern Conference games in a row, including victories over Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, and Chattanooga. Her best performance of the year came in a 75-60 loss against Davidson where she finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Last season, the Catamounts started the season with nine consecutive losses, and finished with a 9-20 overall record. This year, the Catamounts have won more than their total output from last season. The Catamounts are currently 11-7 overall and have victories against ACC powerhouse Wake Forest, Weber State, and Eastern Michigan on their resume. “I’m excited about our performance so far. It’s a 180 degree turn from our start last year. It’s definitely huge and a welcomed change. For a collegiate athlete, winning or losing consecutively can turn your whole life around because you spend so much time and energy on your sport. Of course, last year we peaked in conference play, and I hope this year we keep that the same,” said Lamitie. So far this season, Lamitie’s wish of the Cats playing well at conference time has come true. After finishing SoCon play in 2006 with a record of 8-10, the Catamounts are currently in a three way tie for second place in the Southern Conference with Chattanooga and College of Charleston. “To win the Southern Conference, we will have to play the best we can as a team. We’ve done that in the first seven games we’ve played and it has reflected in our record. If we can continue to succeed at playing our best and playing together, no team in the conference will be able to beat us. We’re hoping we can compete in the conference for the remainder of the season, so we can play in the NCAA Tournament,” stated Lynsie. With the Catamounts playing well in the conference, Lamitie still sees room for improvement in her overall game. She believes that she thinks too much when it comes to some plays that she makes on the basketball court. “I feel like I am a smart player, but sometimes I feel like I think too much and I try to force plays that can’t happen. For example, I am a good passer, but sometimes I try to make passes that aren’t there,” said Lamitie. Lamitie believes that juniors, Monique Dawson, Jessika Johnson, Chavon Keith and Ashley Pellom have matured throughout the course of the season; and are the reason the Catamounts are playing as well as they are. The Lady Cats are standing at 11-7 overall, and 5-2 in the Southern Conference, and Lynsie Lamitie is enjoying every minute of her final ride with the Catamount basketball team. Hopes are running high as Lamitie and the Catamounts aim to get back to the Big Dance this season.