Chattanooga Slips by Cougars 68-63 - CofCSports.com--Official Web site of College of Charleston Athletics

Saturday, February 18

John Kresse Arena

2pm

College of Charleston

Chattanooga

Chattanooga Slips by Cougars 68-63 - CofCSports.com--Official Web site of College of Charleston Athletics

2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

#articleRelated { display: none !important; } Jade Hughes scored a game-leading 23 points which included a career-high five three-pointers, as the College of Charleston women's basketball team fell 68-63 in a hard-fought battle with Chattanooga in front of 486 fans at the John Kresse Arena in Charleston, S.C.

The Cougars fall to 11-14 overall and 7-9 in the Southern Conference while the Lady Mocs extend the nation's longest winning streak to 21 games and improves to 22-3 overall and 16-0 in the league.

Charleston led at half 33-29 after trailing early in the contest, 12-3 with 15:13 to go in the half, before a Cougar 11-2 run over the next four minutes knotted the game at 14-14. Both teams fought back and forth and with 6:07 left in the half the game was tied again at 21-21. Charleston ended the half with a 12-8 run for its four-point halftime lead. The Cougars did lead by as much as eight with 1:15 left but two straight UTC baskets cut the margin to four. Charleston had just six turnovers at half compared to eight for the Lady Mocs. The Cougars shot 36.1 percent from the field, while Chattanooga shot 39.4.

The Cougars led by as much as six in the second half and led 41-35 with 16:33 left in the game before six straight baskets by the Lady Mocs tied the game up 41-41 with 13:55 to go. It was a back-and-forth contest the rest of the game with no team able to take a decisive lead. The second half had six ties alone, the last one coming at the 2:38 mark, 62-62. The Lady Mocs would collect six of the seven final points, four of which were free throws, to take the final 68-63 win.

Chattanooga shot 55.2 percent in the second half to end the game with 46.8 percent, while the Cougars stayed consistent, shooting 38.5 in the second half to finish with 37.1. Charleston had a season-low nine turnovers and pulled down 32 rebounds. Chattanooga had 16 turnovers and 46 rebounds.

Following Hughes' 23 points was Melissa Chambers with 12 points. Three Lady Mocs scored in double-figures with Alex Henderson leading with 16 points and 10 rebounds, all defensive, for her eighth career double-double. Katasha Brown had 14 points and Tiffani Roberson collected 13 as well for the Lady Mocs.

Charleston travels to Western Carolina the 20th for a 7:00 PM contest, while Chattanooga hosts Georgia Southern the 20th as well at 5:15 PM.