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.
AGATE
UNC GREENSBORO 84, ELON 70
ELON (6-10, 2-6 SoCon)
Urysla Cotton 5-6 7-12 17; Ali Ford 4-13 6-6 16; Courtney Medley 7-17 0-1 15; Kallie Hovatter 3-6 1-4 7; Tiara Gause 3-7 0-0 6; Kelsey Evans 1-1 0-0 2; Lei Lei Hairston 0-4 2-2 2; Lisa Archie 1-3 0-1 2; Tiffany Davis 1-2 0-0 2; Aiesha Harper 0-1 1-2 1; Julie Taylor 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 25-64 17-28 70.
UNC GREENSBORO (7-9, 4-4 SoCon)
Lakiah Hyson 9-21 9-9 29; Amanda Leigh 6-15 1-1 15; Kendra Smith 5-12 0-2 10; Monique Floyd 3-8 4-7 10; Agne Girstautaite 2-6 5-6 9; Dayshaun Richbow 2-4 1-2 5; Amy Clapper 1-4 0-0 2; Brey Dorsett 1-5 0-0 2; Dee Corbett 0-1 2-2 2; TaShama Banner 0-0 0-0 0; Sarah Folwell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-76 22-29 84.
Elon 26 44 70
UNC Greensboro 44 40 84
3-point goals--Elon 3-17 (Ali Ford 2-10; Courtney Medley 1-4; Lei Lei Hairston 0-2; Julie Taylor 0-1), UNC Greensboro 4-15 (Lakiah Hyson 2-5; Amanda Leigh 2-7; Brey Dorsett 0-1; Kendra Smith 0-2). Fouled out--Elon-None, UNC Greensboro-None. Rebounds--Elon 47 (Urysla Cotton 12), UNC Greensboro 50 (Monique Floyd 10). Assists--Elon 11 (Ali Ford 5), UNC Greensboro 15 (Monique Floyd 5). Total fouls--Elon 23, UNC Greensboro 20. Technical fouls--Elon-None, UNC Greensboro-None. A-291
- UNCG -
