CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The College of Charleston, facing a must-win game to stay in the running for the Southern Conference women's basketball championship, played like a team with its back against the wall Monday at Carolina First Arena.
In a rare noon game, the Cougars jumped on the league-leading University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and led throughout their 62-50 win, snapping the Lady Mocs' 13-game winning streak.
UTC's lead in the SoCon standings is just a game with four games remaining.
"They came out the aggressor," UTC coach Wes Moore said. "I think they realized that this was do-or-die as far as the regular season goes, and obviously now it puts them squarely back in it along with three other teams (Samford, Davidson and Appalachian State)."
Jenaya Wade-Fray led the Lady Mocs (18-7, 13-3) with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Shanara Hollinquest had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Wade-Fray was just 2-for-12 from the floor but went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.
UTC shot just 26.5 percent from the floor, while Charleston shot 43.6 percent, including 50 percent in the first half. The Cougars (18-7, 12-4) hit seven 3-pointers in the first half -- half of their 14 field goals -- and led 37-26 at the break.
The Cougars pushed their lead to 50-31 and threatened to turn the game into a blowout, but the Lady Mocs responded with a 12-4 run to make it 54-43 following a Hollinquest jumper with 6:08 to play. The Cougars followed that with an 8-0 win-sealing run to push the margin to 62-43 with 2:19 remaining.
"They shot the ball well, they played defense well -- they took it to us," Moore said.
Jade Hughes led the Cougars with 20 points.
The Lady Mocs host Appalachian State on Saturday. Three of UTC's final four games as it chases an 11th consecutive SoCon title are at McKenzie Arena.
Or login with:
New Account