BOX SCORE AND PLAY-BY-PLAY
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga women's basketball team (19-6, 15-1 SoCon) extended its winning streak to 10 games to remain atop the Southern Conference standings with a 72-61 win over the College of Charleston (17-7, 10-6 SoCon) Monday night at the McKenzie Arena.
In the first half, the Lady Mocs came out of the gates quick, scoring 15 of the game's first 19 points to take a commanding 15-4 lead. Both teams would then begin to exchange baskets as UTC was unable to increase its lead beyond 11. With less than four minutes remaining in the period, the Cougars would cut the lead down to four, 29-25 with 3:59 to play in the half on a 3-pointer from Jade Hughes. However, Chattanooga was able to build the lead back and carry an eight-point lead into halftime up 37-29.
After the break, the Lady Mocs began the second half much like the first with an 8-2 run to give the Chattanooga its largest lead of the game, 45-31 at the 16:22 mark. Chattanooga would maintain its double-digit advantage until the eight-minute mark, when the Cougars began to chip away at the Lady Mocs lead. With 8:08 remaining, Hughes made a pair of free throws for the Cougars to cut the lead to nine, 56-47.
College of Charleston would then score the game's next eight points to put the Cougars within one, 56-55 with 5:32 to play as the Lady Mocs were held without a bucket for five minutes.
Senior Erin Ogan ended the scoring drought with a three to put UTC up four, 59-55 after a time out and the Lady Mocs would outscore the Cougars 16-6 down the stretch to get the win and extend its Southern Conference home-court win streak to 24 games.
Ogan recorded her fifth double-double of the season with a career-high 18 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Junior Jenaya Wade-Fray had 15 points for the Lady Mocs and four assists. Senior LaCondra Mason went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe and was one of four Chattanooga players in double figures with 14 points. Shanara Hollinquest faced a double team for most of the night but managed to score double figures for the 24th time this season with 13 points.
Freshman Tenisha Townsend drained a career-high three 3-pointers and closed out the game with nine points as the Lady Mocs shot 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from behind the arc. On the boards, Chattanooga outrebounded the College 38-31 with both teams grabbing 11 off the offensive glass.
All 11 Cougars who saw action Monday night contributed led by Jade Hughes team-high 13 points. College of Charleston shot 21-of-56 (37.5%) on the night but were limited from the 3-point line making just 4-of-21 (19 percent).
Tonia Gerty dished out a game-best 10 assists and had seven points and four rebounds. Sarah Moye, who fouled out late in the contest, had a team-best six rebounds and three steals and helped the Cougars force 17 Chattanooga turnovers.
The Lady Mocs will now hit the road for a pair of road contests On Saturday, Feb. 14 the Lady Mocs will face Davidson in a 2 p.m. matchup at Belk Arena before heading to Boone, N.C., to take on Appalachian State. Listen to “the Voice of the Lady Mocs” Larry Ward with all the action live on WDOD-AM 1310.
