BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Chattanooga women's basketball team left no doubt, defeating the Samford Bulldogs 72-48 at the Pete Hanna Center to claim an unprecedented 10th consecutive Southern Conference regular season title.
Chattanooga improved to 21-8 overall and 17-3 in SoCon play while Samford fell to 21-6 overall and 16-4 in SoCon action. More than 150 UTC fans and family traveled the two hours to Birmingham to support the Lady Mocs effort.
The Lady Mocs used a balanced attack led by junior Jenaya Wade-Fray with 12 points to get past the Bulldogs. Senior Erin Ogan drained three second-half 3-pointers for 11 points and junior Shanara Hollinquest tallied her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Tagan Hatchett got the action started early with a trio of 3-pointers to start the game, putting UTC up 16-7 with 13:09 to go in the first half. The Lady Mocs led 36-18 with 1:11 to go in the first half, it largest of the period.
In the second half, Chattanooga continued its pressure going up by as much as 25 points in the game and held the held Samford to just 27.3 percent shooting in the latter period making just 6-of-22. UTC outrebounded the Bulldogs 39-25 on the night and dished out 15 assists. Hatchett and Andrea Neil each scored nine points while LaCondra Mason, Tenisha Townsend and Megan Rollins each scored seven for UTC.
Chattanooga shot 42.9 percent from the floor and hit a season-best 13 3-pionts, making 43.3 percent of its attempts. Chattanooga held Samford to a 17.6 percent effort from the 3-point line as the league-leaders made just three. Emily London led all scorers with 21 points and seven rebounds while Chika Okoli had nine points and five boards.
The Lady Mocs earned the top seed in the upcoming SoCon Tournament to be played at the McKenzie Arena beginning Thursday, March 5. UTC receives a first-round bye and will play the winner of the No. 8 Furman second game on Friday, March 6 at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Lady Mocs vs. Samford Notes
Chattanooga wins its 10th consecutive Southern Conference regular season title and 15th overall since the 1983-84 season.
For the ninth time in 10 years, the Lady Mocs will be the No. 1 seed in the SoCon tournament. The last time UTC was not first was in 2006 when they tied Western Carolina for the title and the Catamounts claimed the top seed by sweeping the Lady Mocs in the season.
Chattanooga outrebounded Samford 39-25. When outrebounding its opponents, the Lady Mocs are 21-4.
Chattanooga made a season-best 13 3-pointers and have made at least one 3-pointer in 303 consecutive games dating back to Dec. 16, 1999.
The Lady Mocs are 7-1 against Samford and have won the last six games against the Bulldogs.
Shanara Hollinquest tallied her eighth double-double of the season with 10 pts, 11 rebs.
Hollinquest has 1,084 career points and passed Kim Horsey and is now 18th on the all-time scoring charts.
Jenaya Wade-Fray made three 3-pointers and passed Laura Hall for seventh on the UTC all-time list for 3-pointers made.
