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Women's Basketball

Ford Nets 20 as Elon Falls to Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Elon (8-14, 3-10) was unable to secure a season sweep over the Chattanooga Lady Mocs (16-6, 11-2) as it fell 83-64 in Southern Conference women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon in McKenzie Arena. After a slow start, Elon scored 38 points in the second half to come within nine, but it was not enough to overcome the 10-time Southern Conference champion, who remains undefeated on its home court this year and has won its past 11 games.

“We competed hard in the second half in an extremely hostile environment,” Elon head coach Karen Barefoot said. “Chattanooga is a really tough place to play and I think that this team responded as well as anyone could. This is a team that is still growing, but I am pleased with how our freshmen performed. They really took it upon themselves to find the bottom of the net and account for 40 points.”

Ali Ford earned her first 20-point game away from Alumni Gym to lead the Phoenix with 20 points. Lei Lei Hairston was Elon’s only other double-digit scorer adding 12 points, while Kelsey Evans finished with eight points. The trio combined for 40 of Elon’s 64 points. Courtney Medley led the team on the glass, pulling down 10 rebounds, while Urysla Cotton pulled down eight boards. Evans also blocked a game-high three shots.

Janaya Wade-Fray posted 17 first-half points on her way to one of Chattanooga’s three double-double performances. Wade-Fray finished with a team-best 21 points and added 10 rebounds. Michelle Davis made her presence known inside, grabbing 19 boards and scoring 20 points. Shanara Hollinquest finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

After four ties in the opening six minutes of play, Chattanooga took a 17-12 lead on a three-pointer by Kayla Christopher with 13:28 on the clock. Wade-Fray extended Chattanooga’s lead to 12 points, 22-10, with back-to-back baskets. Elon cut the lead to six, 30-24, on a Medley jumper with 5:54 on the clock. The Lady Mocs ended the half with an 11-2 run that sent Elon into the locker room trailing, 42-26. 

With just over 12 minutes left in the game, Elon went on a 14-4 run that cut Chattanooga’s lead to single digits, 57-48. The Lady Mocs answered with a 22-7 streak of its own that pushed its lead back into double figures, 79-57, with just over two minutes to play. Ford added a pair of buckets for the Phoenix in the closing minutes, but Chattanooga came away with the win.

Chattanooga won the rebounding battle, pulling down 58 boards, including 20 on the offensive glass, to Elon’s 44. The Lady Mocs put up 25 points on 16 Elon turnovers. The Phoenix outscored Chattanooga 40-30 in the paint and blocked seven shots.

“We had our opportunities at the basket, but missed too many open baskets,” added Barefoot. “We need to get better at coming up with loose ball rebounds. I feel good about where we are at and the direction that this program is heading.”

Elon’s road trip continues when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., to take on the Samford Bulldogs on Monday evening at 7 p.m.

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