UNA 71, UAH 54 (2/3)
The Lady Chargers slipped to third place in the GSC after suffering their second straight loss. The University of North Alabama leap frogged into the No. 2 spot with a 71-54 win over UAH at Flowers Hall.
Once again, the Lady Chargers were plagued by turnovers, 24 in all. In the last two games, the Lady Chargers have been in a gift giving mood, committing 49 turnovers. Meanwhile, the Lady Chargers hit only 8-of-16 shots from the freethrow line. In the second half, the Lady Chargers shot nearly 53% from the field, but turnovers limited them to only 19 attempts, 46 for the game.
LaKendra Hogg was the lone Lady Charger in double figures. She scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Joi Gopher led UNA with 18 points. Alana Sinyard followed with 17 and Amber Deline 16.
UNA never trailed in the game. The Lady Lions led 38-28 at the half, and increased their lead to to as much as 13 in the second half. The Lady Chargers got as close as five, 56-51, when Katie Caldwell hit a 3-pointer with 6:17 left in the game. However, UAH would score only three points the rest of the game.
LMU 66, UAH 52 (2/1)
The Lady Chargers sputtered, committing 25 turnovers and missing several shots from in close. The result was a 66-52 whipping by Lincoln Memorial. The loss the first one at home for the Lady Chargers. The win moved the Lady Railsplitters into first place, ahead of UAH by a game.
The Lady Splitters had four players in double figures, led by Hillary Ross with 15. Ross also pulled down 12 rebounds. Karmella Wynne added 12 points and 10 boards, while Sarah Crook chipped in 11 and Leah Moore 10. Senior guard LaKendra Hogg was the only UAH player in double figures, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Lady Chargers, playing without starting guard Chrystalle Duncan, who was ill, never really got uncorked on offense. Duncan is ranked fourth in the GSC in 3-pointers made, and sixth in 3-point shooting percentage. Hogg tried to take up the slack, hitting 5-of-8 from deep. But, the rest of the Lady Chargers managed only 1-for-8 from behind the arc.
LMU only trailed once in the game, 7-5 with 15:43 left in the first half. But it didn't last long as a 15-2 run put the Lady Railsplitters up 20-9. Wynne gave LMU its largest lead of the half when her layup with 9:01 left put the Lady Railsplitters up 25-11. The Lady Chargers did scratch their way back before the break. Hogg hit a long 3-pointer with time running out to pull the Lady Chargers to within 31-26 at halftime.
But, the second half proved to be a frustrating, uphill climb. Each time the Lady Chargers looked as though they were about to wave that second half magic wand, LMU snatched the life out of the comeback bid. The Lady Chargers got as close as they would get in the second half when a pair of freethrows by Charitah Jarrett made the score 35-31. However, LMU fought off the attack with a 7-0 burst, increasing their lead back to 11.
The Lady Chargers trimmed the score back to six, 42-36, but would play the majority of the final half trailing by double figures.
Next Games: vs. MUW, Thursday, Feb. 6 at Spragins Hall, at West Georgia, Saturday, Feb. 8, Carrollton, Ga. and vs. Oakland City, Monday, Feb. 10 at Spragins Hall
