Elon 48, Longwood 39
ELON, N.C. ? Tierra Bumbrey knocked down 11 points and logged five steals, pacing Elon to a 48-39 non-conference women’s basketball victory over Longwood during the third annual “Education Day With the Phoenix” festivities Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Gym.
The Education Day festivities began at 10:30 a.m. in Jordan Gym as fifth grade students from Eastlawn, Newlin, Andrews, South Graham, North Graham and Haw River Elementary Schools received lessons in geography, mathematics and health/nutrition from Elon coaches, players and athletic staff members. The children were also greeted by the Phoenix players and coaching staff before moving across into Alumni Gym at noon for the game.
Improving to 13-6 all-time versus the Lancers (6-16), Elon (9-11) received nine points from Amber Wall, nine points from Nicole Allison and seven points and a career-high eight steals ? the highest steal total by a Phoenix player this season ? from Tiffany Davis. Bumbrey collected five steals for the third time this year, matching her season high.
The victory marked the first one for Elon on its Education Day. In past Education Day contests, the Phoenix fell to Longwood 57-51 on Jan. 26, 2005 and to Western Carolina 56-48 on Jan. 30, 2006.
With the win, Elon completed its non-conference schedule with a 6-5 record on the season. The Phoenix also improved to 9-0 when leading at halftime and 6-3 in games decided by 10 points or less this year.
Elon erupted to a 13-2 advantage on a jumper by Shamica Spears with 13:54 to play in the opening period. The Phoenix later stretched that lead to 20-5 on a jumper by Shashonna Moore with 7:08 left in the first half.
Following a jumper by Allison with 12 seconds to go before the break, Elon settled for a 27-13 halftime edge. Longwood exploded out of the locker room with a 26-8 run to claim a 39-35 lead on a put-back by Keiva Small with 4:22 left.
The Phoenix held the Lancers scoreless the rest of the way, posting the contest’s final 13 points to close the contest. A pair of free throws by Allison with 11 ticks remaining determined the final margin.
Ashleigh Holman (12 points), Small (10 points, nine rebounds) and Anna Steg (eight rebounds) led Longwood to a 40-39 rebounding advantage. The Lancers outscored the Phoenix 16-10 off the bench. Elon outscored Longwood 30-16 in the paint, 24-8 off turnovers, 15-11 on second chances and 8-2 off fast breaks.
The Phoenix committed a season-low 13 turnovers while the Lancers turned the ball over 27 times. Elon fired 31.7 percent (20 of 63) from the field and 77.8 percent (7 of 9) from the free throw line while Longwood shot 31.1 percent (14 of 45) from the floor and 66.7 percent (8 of 12) from the charity stripe.
Elon returns to Southern Conference action at 2 p.m. Saturday when Chattanooga visits Alumni Gym. Longwood will host Columbia Union at 7 p.m. in its next game on Feb. 3.
College of Charleston 69, Savannah State 52
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Jade Hughes’ game-high 20 points and Erika Smith’s game-high 10 rebounds lifted the College of Charleston to a 69-52 victory over Savannah State in women’s basketball action before 263 at the John Kresse Arena on Wednesday.
The victory improves Charleston’s record to 10-10 overall, while Savannah State drops to 6-14.
Shaunte Carter scored the first basket of the game for Savannah State 36 seconds in. However, Charleston proceeded to go on a 16-0 run over the next 12 minutes that was culminated by a jumper from Christina Williams with 13:03 left in the half. The Cougars continued to control the action and a lay-up by Hughes with 8:58 left in the half gave them a 21 point lead, 27-6, the largest scoring margin in the half. Ashley Scott made two free throws with two seconds remaining in the first half to give the Cougars a 37-22 lead going into halftime.
Charleston shot 41.2 percent from the field in the fist half, including making four out of 10 three-pointers. Savannah State shot 26.5 percent and made only one out of five three-pointer attempts.
Savannah State started the second half with a 6-2 run and a jumper by LaShara Smith 4:56 into the half cut the margin to 12 points and made the score, 40-28, in favor of Charleston. The Cougars responded with their own 7-0 run and a layup by Melissa Chambers with 12:36 left in the game gave them a 47-28 lead. Both teams continued to trade baskets in the second half, but a jumper by Hughes with 7:58 remaining gave Charleston their largest lead of the game, 57-33.
The Cougars shot 38.6 percent from the field and made 18 out of 22 free-throws, while the Tigers shot 30.8 percent and made nine out of 19 free-throw attempts. CofC grabbed more rebounds than Savannah State, 50-38, and more steals, 16-15.
Nikki Williams also scored 11 points for the Cougars, while Chambers grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
Carter led Savannah State in scoring with 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Antoinette Williams also scored 13 points with seven rebounds for the Tigers.
The Cougars next game will be at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. on Jan. 27, beginning at 1 p.m. The Tigers will return to action in a home game against Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 27 beginning at 4 p.m.