BOX SCORE
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Senior Alex Anderson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) posted a career-high 39 points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds to lead Chattanooga (20-3, 12-0) to a 73-62 Southern Conference victory over Davidson (13-9, 7-4) Monday evening at the McKenzie Arena. With the win, Chattanooga has now reached the 20-win plateau for the ninth consecutive season and extends its win streak to 15 games.
Leading 59-57 with 6:42 remaining in the game, Chattanooga used an 10-1 run to take control of a back-and-forth second half and extended their lead to 69-58 with 3:19 to play in the game. From there, the Lady Mocs did not look back as they closed out their 15th consecutive win, 73-62, and 16th consecutive regular season Southern Conference victory.
Trailing 3-2 early in the first half, Chattanooga quickly righted the ship as senior Brooke Hand (Moulton, Ala.) connected on back-to-back three-pointers to key a 15-1 run and gave the Lady Mocs a commanding 18-4 advantage with 12:37 remaining in the half. Just as quickly as they had built their lead, Chattanooga watched it evaporate as the Wildcats posted an 11-0 run of their own to narrow the gap to 18-15 with 7:45 to play in the half.
Davidson would eventually close to within 23-21 before UTC pushed its lead back into double-digits with an 11-2 run, fueled by seven points from Anderson, to make the score 34-23 at the 2:10 mark. An 8-4 spurt by the Wildcats to end the half then sent the teams into the break with the Lady Mocs leading 38-31.
In the second half, Davidson continued their hot streak as they opened with a 9-4 run, narrowing the margin to a mere two points at 42-40 just over two minutes into the half. A three-pointer by senior Laura Hall (Oliver Springs, Tenn.) made the score 45-40 before five straight points by the Wildcats knotted the game at 45-45 with 14:26 to play.
Back-to-back baskets by Anderson and a pair of free throws from senior Amy Mohr (Cumming, Ga.) then gave Chattanooga a 51-45 advantage at the 12:45 mark before Davidson's Katie Hamilton hit a three-pointer from the corner to key an 8-2 run that tied the game at 53-53. Three Anderson layups made the score 59-57 UTC and set the stage for the Lady Mocs.
Housley led three Wildcats in double-figures with 18 points while junior forward Mercedes Robinson added 13 points and six rebounds on 6-of-7 shooting. Sophomore forward Julia Paquette rounded out the double-figure scorers for Davidson, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
For Chattanooga, Anderson netted her career-high 39 points on 14-of-24 shooting from the field and converted on 11-of-17 of her free throws while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. Sophomore Jenaya Wade-Fray (Madison, Ala.) added nine points and five rebounds while sophomore Shanara Hollinquest (Sylacauga, Ala.) chipped in with seven points and six rebounds. Hall and Hand each finished the night with seven points and five rebounds.
Anderson's 39 points is not only a career-high, it is the third-highest point total by a Lady Moc in the program's history and the most since Regina Kirk notched a program best of 45 points against North Alabama on December 12, 1987. The only other performance ahead of Anderson's is Denise Power's 44 points against Bridgewater in 1978.
Anderson's previous career-high was 34 points set against Western Carolina on January 13, 2007 in an overtime loss at the Roundhouse.
The Lady Mocs return to action on Saturday, February 9 when they travel to Elon for a matinee affair with the Phoenix. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Alumni Gym. The Wildcats will remain on the road with a Saturday afternoon matchup at Appalachian State.
Notes:
- 39 is a career-high for Alex Anderson. She had 34 last season in an overtime loss to Western Carolina at the McKenzie Arena.
- Anderson has now reached double-figures in 11 straight contests and has surpassed 20 points 11 times this season
- 39 points is the third-most points scored by a Chattanooga player in a game.
- Regina Kirk, 45 vs. North Alabama - 1987
- Denise Powers, 44 vs. Bridgewaters College ? 1978
- Ninth consecutive 20-win season for the Lady Mocs
- 15th consecutive win ? tied for third best streak in school history (Dec. 31, 1999-Feb. 23, 2000)
- 15th straight win is second longest Division I streak in the nation behind Connecticut's 21
- 16th consecutive Southern Conference regular season win
- Ninth straight home-court win
