CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Chattanooga Senior Alex Anderson exploded for 20 points in the second half to lead the Lady Mocs to a 64-50 win over Austin Peay in the season opener for both teams at the Dave Aaron Arena Friday night.
Anderson had a double-double with a game-high 26 points, and 15 rebounds. She notched five blocked shots on the night as the Lady Mocs start the year 1-0.
In the opening stanza, the Lady Mocs struggled to control the ball with 13 turnovers, most on traveling calls. Chattanooga's six-point first half lead at the 11:16 mark quickly dissipated and Austin Peay held a slim 22-20 lead at the break.
Austin Peay (0-1) extended its lead to six points three minutes into the second half, its largest of the game. But the Lady Mocs would start to chip away at that lead and eventually tie it up three times before pulling away. After Anderson tied the score for the final time on a jumper, Jenaya Wade-Fray drained three straight shots from beyond the arc and the Lady Mocs led 48-41 with 9:49 to play in the game.
The Lady Govs would get it back to within a pair over the next three minutes, but the Chattanooga offense started clicking along with its defense and Anderson gave UTC its first double-digit lead of the game with 2:56 remaining at 58-48.
Wade-Fray had 13 points for Chattanooga, six rebounds and three assists. Brooke Hand had nine points on a trio of 3-pointers while Shanara Hollinquest who was in foul trouble early, had seven points and six boards.
Ashley Herring led three Lady Govs with 15 points and three assists. Alex Bivens sank three 3-pointers and had 11 points while Ashlee McGee had 10 points and four rebounds. Nicole Jamen had Kellea Reeves had a team-high five boards apiece and combined for eight points.
After shooting a dismal 34.8 percent in the first half, Chattanooga rebounded to go 17-of-32 in the second for a blistering 53.1 shooting percentage. UTC was 7-for-21 from beyond the arc and 7-for-11 from the charity stripe. The Lady Govs shot 29.8 percent for the game, were outrebounded by UTC 40-32, but were a perfect 8-for-8, all in the second half, from the free throw line.
Chattanooga will hit the road Sunday for a 3:00 p.m. matchup against the defending national champions Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be televised live by SportSouth. Listen live on the radio at flagship station of the Chattanooga women's basketball team, WDOD-AM 1310 or online at the official website of Lady Mocs athletics, www.GoMocs.com. Larry Ward will have all the action live.
