University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Elon
Elon Holds off UNC Asheville Comeback, 73-68
12.21.2009 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Elon placed four players in double figures and held off a furious UNC Asheville comeback as the Phoenix edged the Bulldogs 73-68.
Asheville (3-7) was led by a career-high 15 points from Kelli Riles, while Chioma Okoli contributed 10 points. Lindsey Montgomery just missed a double-double with nine points and 14 rebounds. Freshman guard Grace Blaylock did a nice job off the bench for the Bulldogs with a career-high 11 points.
Elon (5-6) was led by Urysla Cotton with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tiffany Davis pumped in 13 points. Kallie Hovatter finished with 12 points. Courtney Medley added 11 points and six assists.
"We did a great job fighting back but just fell a little short," commented Asheville coach Betsy Blose. "We competed for 40 minutes, but we just let Elon get too far in front of us. If we keep working hard and improving then we have a chance to be a pretty good team before the year is over."
Elon led by 18 at 57-39 with 13 minutes to go after a lay-up from Lei Lei Hairston. The Bulldogs chipped away and closed to 68-65 on a Riles lay-up with 2:14 left.
Hovater got a lay-up for Elon to get the lead back to 70-65 before a long three-pointer from Kendall Shepard closed the margin to 70-68 at the 36-second mark.
Hovater was fouled and made one free throw to give the Phoenix a 71-68 advantage with 28 seconds left.
The Bulldogs played for the tie and got a great look, but Shepard's three-pointer just rimmed out, and Davis came down with the rebound at the eight-second mark. She made both free throws to seal the Elon victory.
The Phoenix controlled much of the first half as its pressure defense forced 12 Bulldog turnovers. Elon got scoring from eight different players to take a 45-34 halftime lead. Hovatter led the Phoenix attack with nine points. Blaylock gave the Bulldogs a big lift in the first half with eight points as she knocked down two three-pointers.
Shepard finished with eight assists for the Bulldogs. Okoli grabbed seven rebounds for Asheville.
The Bulldogs are off for the Christmas holidays and will play again in the James Madison Holiday Tournament. Asheville faces Western Michigan on Tuesday, Dec. 29th at 5 p.m.
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