LEXINGTON, Ky. --- Erin Ogan sunk a 3-pointer with 11.1 seconds to play in regulation and sent the game into overtime for the second time this season as the Lady Mocs fell 81-76 to Kentucky in the first round of the WNIT at the Memorial Coliseum Thursday night.
Ogan's trey came at the end of a 25-13 run that started with the Lady Mocs trailing 53-41 with 11:19 to play in the regulation. Shanara Hollinquest dropped in nine of her game-high 28 points in the run and nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to get the Lady Mocs to within four at 55-51 with 7:45 to play.
With the momentum shifting Chattanooga's way as the clocked ticked down, the Lady Mocs trailed 65-60. Ogan hit Hollinquest in the lane for a layup. She was fouled by Carly Ormerod and completed the 3-point-play to cut the lead for the Wildcats to 65-63.
On the ensuing play, Ogan was whistled for a foul on Victoria Dunlap who led Kentucky with 24 points. Dunlap hit the first of her two free throws, but missed the second and Ogan snared the rebound. Chattanooga called a timeout to set up a play, but Tagan Hatchett was called for walking and UK got the ball back.
However, Amani Franklin missed her shot with 28 seconds to play and Hollinquest grabbed the defensive rebound and UTC again called timeout to set up the play.
The ball came inbounds and Ogan, on the left wing, lined up with the basket and sent the game-tying shot through with just 11 seconds remaining. After a Kentucky timeout, Franklin missed a jumper that could have won the game in regulation and for the second time this season, the Lady Mocs headed into overtime.
Overtime started with Kentucky mounting a 9-1 run to put the game nearly out of reach for Chattanooga. Jenaya Wade-Fray scored seven of her 16 points in the overtime period and got the Lady Mocs to within five points at 79-74 with 21 seconds to play. That would be the closest it would get and Kentucky came away with an 81-76 win.
The loss is the sixth to the Wildcats in the history between the two schools and the third in five years. Hollinquest led the Lady Mocs with 28 points and 13 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the year. Ogan had 16 points and nine rebounds while Wade-Fray had 16 points with seven in overtime. LaCondra Mason had eight points, nine boards, four assists for UTC and three steals.
Dunlap led the Wildcats with 24 points and nine rebounds while Franklin notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards. Amber Smith had 17 points and six assists for Kentucky (16-15) who will move on to face Wisconsin Sunday afternoon in Madison.
Chattanooga closed out the season at 22-10 overall and 17-3 in Southern Conference action claiming a 10th consecutive SoCon regular season title, advancing to the postseason for the 10th straight year and winnig 20 or more games over that same time.
The game was the last for seniors Ogan and Mason. Ogan wraps up a four-year career with 796 points, 115 3-pointers 65 blocked shots and 548 rebounds. She is ranked fourth all-time in blocked shots and eighth in 3-pointers made. Mason, in her year-and-a-half with Chattanooga, tallied 373 points, had 261 rebounds, 27 3-pointers, 83 assists and 54 steals.
