The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team wrapped up its four-game home stand Monday against Elon in a nearly empty McKenzie Arena.
Officially, the paid attendance was 1,279. But only about 150 hearty souls made their way through the snow to the Roundhouse. There they saw the Lady Mocs get off to a fast start before getting outhustled and dramatically out-rebounded in a 74-61 Elon win.
"I feel like in the second half we came out kind of sluggish," said Whitney Hood, who led the Lady Mocs with 21 points. "In the first half we were ready, and [in the second] they got too many easy shots and we didn't rebound as much as we usually do."
UTC, which had won four straight games, including three in a row against Southern Conference opponents, had an 11-point lead less than six minutes into the game.
After that, the Phoenix (9-5, 4-2) started crashing the boards, chasing after every loose ball and playing like they wanted a win more than UTC (7-9, 4-3).
Elon out-rebounded UTC 48-26, had a 15-9 advantage in second-chance points and outscored the Lady Mocs 38-25 in the paint.
Staff Photo by Staff Photo by Angela Lewis / Chattanooga Times Free Press
Taylor Hall of UTC catches the ball as Elon's Kelsey Evans guards at McKenzie Arena Monday afternoon."They came in here, they were hungrier than us, they were quicker to the ball [and] dominated us on the boards, 48-26," Lady Mocs coach Wes Moore said. "I think that says a lot about who had energy and who was excited about playing."
Elon also got to the foul line, going 19-for-26, while UTC was just 5-of-8.
"They were the aggressor," Moore said.
A 12-0 run gave UTC a 15-4 lead with 14:17 to play in the first half. That was the high-water mark for the Lady Mocs, who let Elon whittle the advantage to two, 30-28, by halftime.
In the second half, the teams traded baskets and were tied at 38 with 15:06 to play. Elon's Kelsey Evans hit a short jumper over Hood to put the Phoenix in front 40-38 with 14:44 left, and UTC trailed the rest of the way.
Bailey Dewart added 10 points, seven rebounds and five steals for the Lady Mocs, who finished with 11 steals and 12 turnovers.
Evans had a double-double for Elon with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Four Phoenix players scored in double figures, and six had at least four rebounds.
"I think we definitely got outhustled and out-rebounded," Dewart said. "We definitely didn't box out and we didn't go get the ball, and that was a huge factor."
The Lady Mocs will be back in action Friday at Davidson.