University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Aryanna Gilbert topped the 20-point mark for the second straight day, but it wouldn’t be enough. The Mocs fell 59-49 to Princeton Thursday afternoon in the final of the Gator Holiday Classic hosted by the University of Florida.
Chattanooga is now 8-5 overall while the Tigers improve to 9-3
Gilbert was 10-of-16 on the day with a game-high 22 points. She added a pair of 3-pointers in the final quarter and had three rebounds.
“Ary, the whole day, just kept us in, gave us a chance,” Chattanooga head coach Jim Foster said. “She made a couple of shots here and there when we needed them.”
Sophomore Arianne Whitaker had a team-high 10 rebounds with three each of assists, steals and blocked shots. Sophomore Lakelyn Bouldin was 3-of-3 from the free throw line with nine points and freshman Brooke Burns, with the Mocs first two 3-pointers in the third quarter, matched her season-high with eight points.
Chattanooga trailed 29-18 at the half and got further behind when Princeton started the second half on a 13-3 run to make it 42-21 with 6:55 to play in the period.
The Mocs response started with Burns’ first 3-pointer of the game at the 6:42 mark of the third quarter. That sparked a 17-4 Chattanooga run to get the Mocs to within eight points at 46-38 with9:32 to remaining in the game.
Chattanooga managed several defensive stops but could not convert on the other end and the two teams played it 13-11 in the Tigers’ favor the rest of the way.
Princeton had four players in double figures led by Bella Alarie with 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
"She's long and knows how to use that length,” Foster said of Alarie. “We didn't do a very good job of her at distance. She's big size and we know some rebounds are just going to go to her, but when she comes from a distance it means we didn't box her away."
Leslie Robinson also recorded a double-double for Princeton with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Tia Weledji added 15 points, making 3-of-4 from the 3-point line and Carlie Littlefield had 10 points and a game-high four assists.
Princeton outrebounded the Mocs 44-24 and edged UTC in the paint 32-28. The Mocs never led and the score was tied just once following three free throws by Bouldin in the first quarter.
Chattanooga will take a brief holiday break before returning to the court on December 28. The Mocs will host Hampton at the Roundhouse in a 2:00 p.m. tilt. Tickets are on sale at the McKenzie Arena and online at GoMocs.com.