Concord Rolls Past Davis & Elkins 81-62

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team defeated Davis & Elkins 81-62 in a Mountain East Conference game held at the Carter Center Saturday afternoon.
 
After allowing the Senators (2-10, 1-6 MEC) to bring the score to 32-27 with 2:15 remaining in the first half, the Mountain Lions (7-6, 4-3 MEC) finished the half on an 8-0 scoring run to take a 13-point lead into halftime, 40-27. Graduate guard Nakaila Gray converted a three-point play to start the run, followed by senior guard Jaisah Smith knocking down a pivotal three-point basket. Smith connected on a two-point jumper to cap off her 13 first-half points.
 
In the third quarter, the CU lead remained double-digits throughtout. Davis & Elkins hit a three-pointer in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but another 8-0 run put the game out of reach.
 
Smith scored four more points during the run to give Concord an 18-point advantage with 6:12 left to play, 64-46. Concord settled for the 19-point win.
 
A back-and-forth to begin the first quarter knotted the scoring 8-8, until the Mountain Lions used four different scorers to charge a 9-2 run over a span of 4:13 to hold a 17-10 advantage after the first 10 minutes of action.
 
Concord's rebounding on the offensive end created 21 second-chance points, the second-highest total this season. The Mountain Lions grabbed 23 offensive rebounds, while also grabbing 23 defensive rebounds. CU limited D&E to only 35 total rebounds in the game, creating an 11-rebound advantage, tied for the second-highest total this season.
 
Led by Smith's six steals in the game, CU was able to force 27 Senator turnovers. Saturday marked the sixth straight game forcing opponents into at least 20 turnovers. Phillips and junior guard Skylar Davidson picked up two steals each to contribute to the turnover total.
 
Smith finished as CU's leading scorer totaling 17 points on 7-for-14 (50 percent) shooting. She has led Concord in scoring a team-best six times this season. Gray scored 15 points with help from a new career-high of nine free throws (9-for-10), while also snagging eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Abbie Smith rounded out double-digit scorers, as she tallied 13 points. Davidson piled up her stat line yet again as she scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds, added eight assists, and came away with two steals.
 
The Mountain Lions will host MEC foe West Liberty Wednesday evening in the Carter Center at 5:30 p.m.