CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Erin Ogan drained a 3-pointer with 17 seconds to play in Chattanooga's semifinal game against the College of Charleston in the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament, but the Lady Mocs couldn't hang on and fell 53-51 to the Cougars.
Ogan nailed the 3 from the top right of the key to tie the game, but the Cougars responded with a quick layup down low by Deidra Jones to take a two point lead with just 3.5 seconds to play. Charleston used strong defense on the ensuing throw in and grabbed the lose ball to hang on for its second win over UTC in the SoCon tournament.
Ogan, a senior, went 4-for-9 from the 3-point line to grab her eighth double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Jenaya Wade-Fray made all three of her 3-pointers in the second half for a game-high 15 points.
The first half saw UTC match its season low for points scored with 19 making just 6-of-27 with five from beyond the arc. The Cougars came out fast getting its lead up to 10-5 with six minutes played and pushed that lead nine points less than four minutes later on a traditional 3-point play from Nikki Williams.
The Lady Mocs got to within three points in the first half, but couldn't hold on as the College of Charleston pushed its lead to nine at the break and outrebounded UTC 24-19 in the opening period.
In the second half, the Lady Mocs came out strong and fought off the Cougars to cut the lead to 31-30 less than four minutes into the half. Andrea Neil hit one of her two 3-pointers of the game to tie it up 35-35 with 11:43 to play and after a trey from Jade Hughes, Wade-Fray would hit one of her three of the game to tie it up again at 38-38 with 9:38 to go.
Charleston went on a 10-0 run over the next 4:38, but the Lady Mocs would respond with a 13-3 run of its own to tie it at 51-51 with 17 seconds to play.
The College of Charleston had three players in double figures led by Hughes 13 and four assists. Nikki Williams, 10 points, 14 rebounds and Deidra Jones, 10 points, 11 rebounds, each finished the game with double-doubles.
Tagan Hatchett hit a trio of 3-pointers in the first half and ended the game with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists while Shanara Hollinquest had seven points, seven boards, two assists and three steals.
Chattanooga outrebounded the Cougars 43-40 with 14 offensive boards. The Lady Mocs never led in the game and tied it four times. The Cougars will go on to play either Samford or Western Carolina in the finals Monday afternoon at 3 p.m.
