ELON, N.C. – Shanara Hollinquest dropped a game-high 20 points – including her 1,000th career marker on her final score at the free throw line – and ripped off a contest-best 12 rebounds as Chattanooga defeated Elon 82-56 in Southern Conference women’s basketball action Monday night at Alumni Gym.
The first half featured four ties and eight lead changes. Courtney Medley scored on a fast-break layup to put the Phoenix (2-21 overall, 0-14 SoCon) up 16-13 with 12:49 to go in the opening period. The Mocs (17-6 overall, 13-1 SoCon) answered with a 21-9 surge to build a 34-25 advantage on a LaCondra Mason jumper with 6:00 remaining in the first frame.
Back-to-back three-point buckets by Medley brought Elon back to within three points at 34-31 with 3:11 left to play in opening stanza. Chattanooga then went on a 27-10 run to stretch its lead to 61-41 on a three-pointer by Jenaya Wade-Fray with 13:06 remaining in the contest. The Phoenix never inched closer than 18 points the rest of the way.
Wade-Fray (16 points), Mason (14 points), Erin Ogan (14 points, eight rebounds) and Tagan Hatchett (11 points, four assists) all scored in double digits for the Mocs as did Medley (career-high 19 points), Urysla Cotton (10 points) and Tiffany Davis (10 points) for Elon.
Chattanooga earned advantages in rebounds (42-29), turnovers (11-17), assists (16-4) and steals (9-6). The Mocs outscored the Phoenix 36-26 in the paint, 20-11 off turnovers, 21-7 off second chances and 9-8 off the bench.
Elon shot 42.9 percent (21 of 49) from the field – 37.5 percent (3 of 8) from three-point range – and 64.7 percent (11 of 17) from the free throw line. Chattanooga fired 45.6 percent (31 of 68) from the floor – 33.3 percent (10 of 30) from three-point land – and 71.4 percent (10 of 14) from the charity stripe.
The Phoenix will host Davidson at 2 p.m. Saturday while the Mocs will host Georgia Southern at 3 p.m. Saturday.
–ELON–
