GREENSBORO, N.C. –
Lakiah Hyson scored a career-high 29 points and Monique Floyd had 10
points and 10 rebounds for her second career double-double as UNC
Greensboro dropped Elon on Wednesday, 84-70.
Amanda
Leigh continued her recent hot streak with 15 points for the Spartans
(7-9, 4-4 Southern Conference), while Kendra Smith was also in double
figures with 10 points.
Elon
(6-10, 2-6 SoCon) was paced by Urysla Cotton’s 17 points, 12 rebounds
and six blocked shots as the senior posted her fifth double-double in
the last six games. Ali Ford had 16 points and Courtney Medley added 15
off the bench for the Phoenix, which also got 10 rebounds from Kelsey
Evans.
A
15-2 Spartans run to end the first half was the turning point in
Wednesday’s game, as UNCG turned a five-point lead into an 18-point
bulge at the break. With UNCG holding a 29-24 lead with less than four
minutes to go before halftime, Agne Girstautaite got the run going with
a pair of free throws. Hyson had six points in the spurt – including a
drive across that lane that ended with an acrobatic scoop layup – and
Smith added a pair of baskets as the Spartans scored 44 points in the
first half for the second game in a row.
Elon went nearly four minutes without a basket during the run.
The
Phoenix would use an 8-1 run early in the second half to cut UNCG’s
lead to 10, getting baskets from four different players in the spurt.
Cotton’s jumper with 12:03 to play made it 57-47 in the Spartans’ favor.
Hyson had the answer, however, hitting a 3-pointer from the wing – one of her two on the night – to snap the run.
The
Spartans would eventually get up by as many as 22 in the second half on
a pair of Dee Corbett free throws that made it 77-55 with 4:30 to go,
but Elon again started chipping away. An 11-1 Phoenix burst got Elon
back within 12 at 78-66 with 2:24 to play, but a Smith jumper and a
pair of free throws each from Girstautaite and Floyd put the Spartans
back up by 18 with just over a minute to go.
Ford added four free throws in the final minute for the final margin.
Hyson’s
29-point effort was the most ever for a UNCG player in Fleming Gym,
bettering the mark of 28 points set four times, most recently in 2000.
The all-time scoring mark in the arena is 31, set by two UNCG opponents.
UNCG
won the rebounding battle for just the fourth time this season, pulling
down 50 boards to Elon’s 47. The Spartans had a 31-15 rebounding edge
at halftime. Redshirt freshman Amy Clapper finished with a career-best
nine rebounds, while Girstautaite had six to go with nine points. Hyson
had seven boards and Smith had six.
The
Spartans wrap up a three-game homestand on Saturday when they host
Appalachian State at 3 p.m. for Girl Scout Day. Scouts and scout
leaders in uniform will gain entry to the game for just $2.
NOTES:
Hyson’s previous career high was 21 points, set earlier this season at
Fordham (Dec. 12). … Hyson was 9-for-9 from the free throw line,
matching her career high in free throw makes. She has now hit 34 of her
last 37 attempts … Floyd’s other double-double was on Feb. 9, 2008,
when she had 12 points and 10 rebounds against Western Carolina. …
Hyson moved into a tie for ninth place on UNCG’s career steals list
with two Wednesday night. She now has 168 for her career, tied with
Melinda Goodson (1996-00). … Leigh, who had 21 and 20 points in her
last two games, hit two 3-pointers, moving her into a tie for ninth
place in school history with 81 for her career. She is tied with Beth
Durrill (1987-91). … UNCG went 22-for-29 at the free throw line (75.9
percent), setting a new season high in free throw makes and attempts.