BOX SCORE AND PLAY-BY-PLAY
POST GAME NOTES
POST GAME QUOTES
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Behind a career-high 35 points from Shanara Hollinquest the Chattanooga women's basketball team (12-6, 8-1 SoCon) defeated Davidson (8-10, 7-2 SoCon) 76-69 Saturday evening and retained its share of the Southern Conference lead.
Hollinquest was 60 percent from the field making 9-of-15, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the three-point arc, as the Lady Mocs shot 41.1 percent in the game. The junior also had a career evening from the free throw line, sinking 15-of-17 from the charity stripe. Jenaya Wade-Fray scored in double-digits for the fifth straight game with 19 off 7-of-15 shooting, while LaCondra Mason set a career-high in rebounds with 12 and assists with five.
In the contest Davidson was led by the trio of Ashley Lax, Mercedes Robinson, and Alex Thompson who combined for 58 of the Wildcats' 69 points. Lax finished with a team-high 24, while Robinson and Thompson had 18 and 16 respectively.
In the first half the Lady Mocs shot 41.4 percent from the field (12-of-29) as UTC went into the locker room up 31-27. Davidson was able to hang close to Chattanooga as the Wildcats were 12-of-26 (46.2 percent). In the half Hollinquest displayed her dominance early, scoring 15 of the Lady Mocs' first 19 points.
After the break Chattanooga was able to extend its slim four point lead thanks to a 10-2 run. Hollinquest began the second period much like she did in the first, pouring in eight points in the half's first four minutes.
The lead would not last long however as Davidson went on a run of its own, outscoring the Lady Mocs 14-5 to cut the UTC lead down to only three, 46-43 with 12:03 to play in the game. That would be as close as the Wildcats were able to get however, as Chattanooga slowly began to build its lead thanks to the tandem of Hollinquest and Wade-Fray.
In the second half, the two combined for 34 of UTC's 45 points as the Wildcats continued to push shooting 50 percent in the second half. Chattanooga continued to push the lead back into double digits only to be foiled by the Wildcats who kept UTC's advantage in double digits most of the game.
Chattanooga scored 21 points off 15 Wildcat turnovers and had a season-low seven turnovers of their own. The Lady Mocs out rebounded Davidson 37-31 and had 16 points off 13 offensive rebounds.
Samford (13-3, 8-1) posted an 87-51 win over Appalachian State in Birmingham to keep pace with the Lady Mocs at the top of the standings. Davidson, after winning its first seven conference games, has now lost its last two and stands in third.
The Lady Mocs will continue their four-game homestand on Monday as UTC plays host to Appalachian State. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the McKenzie Arena. The Lady Mocs will honor Laura Hall, their next player in the “Decade of Dominance” series, at halftime. Call the McKenzie Arena box office for tickets at 423-266-6627 or online at GoMocs.com
