UTC Mocs logoELON, N.C. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team missed more than half of its free throws in regulation Monday night at Alumni Gym, which allowed Elon to send the game into overtime.
In the extra period, the Phoenix made most of the plays and pulled out a 70-60 win, handing the Lady Mocs their first Southern Conference loss of the season.
UTC (10-3, 3-1) was 10-for-21 from the free-throw line and ice cold from the floor, 1-for-8, in overtime.
"We missed too many free throws, yes, but we also gave up too many offensive rebounds (13)," UTC coach Wes Moore said in a phone interview. "[Denying] offensive rebounds, that's something you can control."
The Lady Mocs led 55-49 with 4:57 to play in the second half before Elon (6-7, 3-1) went on a 6-0 run to take the lead. Ashlen Dewart put UTC back in front, 57-56, with a basket inside with 42 seconds left.
UTC's Alex Black was fouled with 21 seconds remaining and hit one of two free throws to make it 58-56. With six seconds left, Elon's Kelsey Evans tied the game with a putback, forcing overtime. Evans had a huge game with 19 points and 21 rebounds.
"On a night where we didn't play well, we were one box-out from winning," Moore said.
Elon scored the first five points of overtime, all at the free-throw line, and pulled away for just its third win over UTC in 18 meetings.
Dewart led UTC with 20 points and nine rebounds and Kayla Christopher scored 15 points, all in the first half. Kylie Lambert had eight points, seven rebounds and seven steals.
The Lady Mocs host Georgia Southern on Saturday in UTC's first home game since Dec. 12.