After scoring only five combined points in the first half Elon's Rachel Hester and Tiffany Davis totaled 24 in the second to lead the Phoenix to the 64-58 win over the College of Charleston women's basketball team in action tonight at Alumni Gym in Elon, N.C.
The loss is the fifth in a row for the Cougars, the longest of the season, and drops them to 10-15 overall and 5-9 in the Southern Conference. Elon snaps a four-game losing streak and improves to 10-15 and 4-10 in the league.
Neither team shot well in the first half, with the Cougars posting a 29.0 shooting percentage, compared to 32.1 for the Phoenix. Charleston led most of the half but could not take a significant lead and Elon never trailed by more than five. Charleston led by four in the closing minutes but a three-pointer by Amber Wall with 1:05 to go cut the margin to just one at 23-22 going into the locker room.
With 13:20 to go in the game Charleston led by one at 34-33. That would be the last time the Cougars had the advantage as Elon used a 13-2 run over he next four minutes to take the 46-36 lead with 9:35 left. The run was led by Rachel Hester, who connected on nine of her 14 points during that stretch, including two back to back three-pointers. Charleston cut the margin to two at 48-46 with 4:25 left but Elon responded with another 7-1 run to lead 55-47 with 2:59 to go. The Phoenix connected on key free throws down the stretch to keep the Cougars from mounting a successful comeback and took the eventual 64-58 win.
Charleston shot 36.4 percent from the field in the second half for 32.8 for the game. Elon shot 48.0 percent in the second to finish with 39.6. The Cougars held the slight 39-38 edge in rebounding and had one less turnover, 15-14. CofC was 11-for-13 from the free throw line, while Elon was 18-for-23.
Leading Charleston was
Nikki Williams and
Jade Hughes with 12 points apiece.
Jill Furstenburg and
Sarah Moye paced the team in rebounds with seven each. Hester'2 14 points was just one behind Davis' team-leading 15 points. Nikko King had 10 rebounds to lead Elon as well.
Charleston next travels to UNC Greensboro Monday, Feb. 12th for a 5:00 p.m. game
