Chattanooga senior Aryanna Gilbert was just one point shy of her career-high and was one of three Mocs to top the 20-point mark in UTC’s 87-82 overtime win against UT Martin Saturday afternoon at the McKenzie Arena.
Chattanooga, with its sixth straight win, improves to 6-3 on the year and the Skyhawks drop to 3-4 overall. This was UTC’s 12th win over UT Martin and fourth straight.
Gilbert led all scorers with 25 points. She was 8-of-11 from the field and drained all seven free throws.
Her two 3-pointers came back-to-back in the fourth quarter to give UTC a brief lead. With the Mocs trailing 64-59 with 7:46 to play, she dropped in the first from the top of the key, making it a two-point 64-62 UTM lead.
The Skyhawks were called for the offensive foul on their ensuing possession, putting the ball back into the Mocs’ hands and Gilbert hit her second trey from nearly the same spot to give UTC a 65-64 lead with 7:15 to play.
The lead would change just twice more with the Skyhawks getting out front by as much as five points, 73-68 with 1:35 remaining in regulation.
Out of a timeout, Keiana Gilbert took the inbounds pass and was open for the layup, making it a three-point game with 1:24 to play. UTM again turned the ball over and a Skyhawk foul sent Gilbert to the line. She made just one of her two attempts and the Skyhawk lead was now 73-71 with 1:01 on the clock.
UT Martin missed a jumper by Emanye Robertson and Gilbert was fouled on the rebound and this time hit both free throws to tie the game for the 10th time with 10.4 seconds left in regulation. The Skyhawks had another turnover to give it back to the Mocs with just under two seconds remaining and Bouldin’s last second 3-point attempt was blocked. Chattanooga headed to its first overtime of the year.
Skyhawk Kendall Spray got the scoring started in overtime with her fourth 3-pointer of the day. Chattanooga took advantage of back-to-back UTM miscues and briefly retook the lead 77-76 with 2:58 to play in the extra period.
The two team traded leads over the next 1:13 with the Skyhawks getting out front 80-79 with 1:43 to play on a layup from Chelsey Perry.
Gilbert and Bouldin would combine for the Mocs’ next points in an 8-2 run by Chattanooga for the win. Gilbert converted a 3-point play, Bouldin hit a 3-pointer to make it 85-80 with 16 seconds to play. UTM put in a layup to make it a three point game, 85-82.
On Chattanooga’s ensuing possession, UTM fouled the Mocs but neither free throw would fall and the Skyhawks grabbed the defensive board. Their 16th turnover of the game put the ball back in UTC’s hands and Lakelyn Bouldin was sent to the line. She hit both free throws with less than a second on the clock to put it away.
Bouldin, with nine points in overtime, had a career-high 23 points, topping the 21 points she had earlier this season against Presbyterian. She was 8-of-16 from the field and matched her career-high for treys with five set last year in the Mocs’ win at UT Martin.
Keiana Gilbert scored 10 points in the final 6:24 of the game. She had Chattanooga’s last five points in the final 1:24 of regulation to send the game into overtime then scored five more in overtime. She topped the 20-point mark for the third time this season with 21 points making 8-of-17 and played all 45 minutes.
Aryanna Gilbert led the Mocs with eight rebounds and had five assists. Keiana Gilbert had seven rebounds and matched her career-high with six assists. Shelbie Davenport saw 25 minutes of action on the court and dished out a career-high four assists with five points and two rebounds.
Chattanooga shot 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the field in overtime and was 31-of-60 (51.7%) for the game and made a season-high 11 3-pointers. UTC had a season-high for assists with 21 and a season low nine turnovers.
UTM had four players in double figures led by Kendall Spray’s 20 points. She was 8-of-12 on the day and 4-of-5 from the 3-point line with seven rebounds and three steals. Janekia Mason and Chelsey Perry each had 16 points while Emanye Robertson had 13 and a game-high six assists. Maddie Waldrop had a game-high 10 rebounds and seven points.
The Skyhawks were 32-of-53 (60.4%) and 9-for-12 from the 3-point line while making 9-of-11 from the free throw line. UTM outrebounded UTC 28-26.
The two teams combined for 74 points in the paint with the Skyhawks outscoring UTC 40-34. Chattanooga scored 25 points off 16 UTM miscues and had eight second chance points on seven offensive boards.
Chattanooga returns to action Sunday, December 10 against Virginia Tech at the Roundhouse in the second game of a double-header. The men will host Charlotte at 1:00 p.m. with the women’s game to follow.
Tickets are on sale now at the McKenzie Arena box office and online at GoMocs.com.