Nov. 12, 2007
Final Stats
Elon Sports Information
ELON, N.C. - Tiffany Davis put up 10 points and dished out a game-high five assists while Urysla Cotton hauled in a career-high 11 rebounds in her first collegiate start, lifting Elon to a 49-43 non-conference women's basketball victory over North Carolina Central Monday night at Alumni Gym.
The Phoenix (1-2) soared to an early 13-6 advantage on a layup by Amber Wall with 13:15 left to play in the first half. The Eagles (0-2) answered by reeling off nine consecutive points to claim a 15-13 edge on back-to-back baskets by Shanise Blanks with 8:58 to go before the break.
Elon responded by erupting for an 18-5 run to build a 31-20 halftime lead following a jumper by Shashonna Moore with 14 seconds left before the intermission. North Carolina Central opened the second stanza with a 15-4 surge to even the score at 35-35 on a fastbreak layup by Tonia Roundtree with 12:46 remaining in the contest.
The Phoenix used a 14-3 spurt to fashion a 49-38 advantage on a fastbreak bucket by Tierra Bumbrey with 5:33 to play. Elon won the battle of the boards by a 40-37 margin and forced 29 Eagle turnovers while committing 24 miscues.
"As physical as we are inside, we need to control the boards," Phoenix coach Brenda Paul said. "That is something that we will start working drill after drill after drill on because that is an area that we should be taking control in. We still have a lot of work to do. It's great to get a win."
Davis canned four of her six attempts from the field while Bumbrey snatched a game-high five steals. Kitara McMoore posted 10 points and six rebounds for Elon, which outscored North Carolina Central 30-22 in the paint, 28-18 off turnovers and 15-6 off second chances.
"We turned the ball over too many times," North Carolina Central coach Joli Robinson said. "We did see a lot of good things happen tonight. We played with a lot of character and never gave up. We did some good things defensively."
The Eagles fired 37.0 percent (17 of 46) from the floor and 40.0 percent (6 of 15) from the free throw line. The Phoenix shot 36.2 percent (21 of 58) from the field and 27.3 percent (3 of 11) from the charity stripe.
"They (North Carolina Central) did a nice job of jumping into passing lanes and being aggressive," Paul said. "They were more aggressive to the boards and the loose balls than we were in the first half. Those kids played really, really hard. They were very prepared to play."
Jori Nwachukwu notched a pair of game highs with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles, was named MVP of the game. North Carolina Central also received 10 points from Jennifer Hukill and six rebounds apiece from Roundtree and Shakeyma Adams.
Elon visits No. 8 North Carolina at 7 p.m. Tuesday while the Eagles return to flight at Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
