University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior Alex Black (Memphis, Tenn.) scored a team-high 14 points to lead the Lady Mocs to a 63-44 win over Wofford Monday night at the Benjamin Johnson Arena in Southern Conference women’s basketball action.
Chattanooga, 18-3 overall and 11-1 in league play, sits alone in first place in the SoCon standings as Davidson (10-1) had the night off. Wofford falls to 6-14 on the year and 1-11 in conference action.
Wofford reeled off eight straight points over the first 3:35 of the game with six points from Daniella Motley. Chattanooga responded with a 10-0 run over the next 5:19 to started with a short jumper in the lane by junior Faith Dupree (Knoxville, Tenn.) and capped off with a layup from sophomore Ka’Vonne Towns (Lilburn, Ga.).
The Terriers got back out front by as much as five points and the Lady Mocs closed out the first half with a 9-3 run to take a slim 24-23 lead into halftime.
Black started the second half with the second of her three 3-pointers to spark a 13-3 run and the Lady Mocs’ lead climbed to 37-26 with 15:46 to play. The Terriers would get only as close as six points the remainder of the game as Chattanooga continued to build its lead and get out front by as much as 23 points, 60-37, with 2:47 to play.
Wofford cut the lead to 41-35 with 10:17 to play and would not score again over the next 6:25 while Chattanooga put up 16 points for a 57-35 lead with 5:18 to play.
Black was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from the 3-point line while playing just 15 minutes. Junior Ashlen Dewart (Spartanburg, S.C.), playing in her hometown, scored nine points and had three rebounds. Junior Taylor Hall (New Tazewell, Tenn.), senior Kylie Lambert (Etowah, Tenn.) and junior Faith Dupree (Knoxville, Tenn.) each chipped in six points while Hall grabbed eight rebounds and Lambert had five. Freshman Tatianna Jackson (Atlanta, Ga.) had seven points, two assists and three steals.
Wofford outrebounded Chattanooga 44-34 with 16 offensive boards to UTC’s 14. Chattanooga forced 23 Terrier turnovers and scored 27 points off the miscues and the Lady Mocs’ bench outscored Wofford’s 26-9.
The Terriers were led by Motley’s game-high 16 points and eight rebounds. Rachel Brittenham had nine points and eight rebounds and three steals.
The Lady Mocs return to action Wednesday night at the McKenzie Arena for a three-game home stand. UTC will host Samford at 7 p.m. at the Roundhouse. Tickets are available at the McKenzie Arena or online at GoMocs.com.