CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- Chattanooga missed a last second attempt in regulation and fell 51-49 to Western Carolina Monday night at the Ramsey Center in Southern Conference women's basketball action.
Chattanooga drops to 20-8 overall and 15-4 in SoCon play with one game remaining while the Catamounts improve to 7-21 overall and 6-13 in league action.
Senior Shanara Hollinquest (Sylacauga, Ala.) was fouled as she made a layup with 48 seconds to play and drained the free throw to tie the game at 42-42. Chattanooga, playing a man-to-man defense, forced the Catamounts to turn the ball over on a shot clock violation and got the ball back with 17 seconds to play.
With six seconds to play, the Lady Mocs called a time out to set up a final play. Senior Jenaya Wade-Fray (Madison, Ala.) threw the ball in and Hollinquest drove toward the basket and put up a last second shot that hit off the board and sent the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Western Carolina struck first with a jumper from Emily Clarke. UTC sophomore Tenisha Townsend (Antioch, Tenn.) hit one of two free throws to cut the lead back to one at 44-43, but Kristen Feemster inched it back up to two points making just one of her two free throw attempts at the 3:57 mark.
Wade-Fray grabbed the rebound on the Feemster's missed free throw and drove the length of the court to tie it up 45-45 on a jumper with 3:51 to play. Kaila-Shea Menendez stretched the lead to 49-45 on a 3-pointer from the top of the key after connecting on one of two free throws. However, Wade-Fray cut it back to two on a pair of free throws with 2:26 to play. That's as close as it would get for the Lady Mocs who must win Saturday against Samford to gain the to seed in the league tournament next month.
The Lady Mocs went 16-of-60 from the floor for its second worst shooting performance of the year making just 26.7 percent. From the 3-point line, the Lady Mocs made 7-of-29 (24.1%) and went just 10-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Western Carolina started the game with a 12-2 run over the first 5:21 before Chattanooga founds its feet and got back into the game with a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 14-12 with 5:43 to play in the first half.
The Lady Mocs outscored Western Carolina 7-4 through the remainder of the half and went into the break with a 19-18 lead on a 3-pointer from freshman Kayla Christopher (Oliver Springs, Tenn.) with five seconds in the half.
The two teams started out the second half trading buckets and the Lady Mocs last lead of the game came on a 3-pointer from Wade-Fray with 14:27 to play in the game. Western Carolina scored nine unanswered points to take a 36-28 lead with 8:29 to go.
Senior Megan Rollins (Monteagle, Tenn.) drained a 3-pointer with 6:56 to play sparking a 10-2 run that she capped off with her second trey with 3:44 to play, tying the game at 38-38. Hollinquest and Caitlin Hollifield traded points until the end of regulation.
Hollinquest posted her 15th double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds and Wade-Fray led the Lady Mocs with 14 points and grabbed seven boards. Rollins, with a career-best two 3-pointers, chipped in eight points and grabbed four rebounds.
Emily Clarke was the only Western Carolina player in double figures with 12 points and Hollifield had a team-high 10 rebounds and eight points before fouling out in regulation. Kendra Carroll and Kaila-Shea Menendez each added eight points and Jessica Jackson had four assists.
The Lady Mocs will host Samford Saturday, Feb. 27 at the McKenzie Arena in a 7 p.m. matchup. Prior to the game, UTC will honor its four seniors. Chattanooga must win the game to get the top seed in the SoCon tournament and win the regular season title outright. A loss would put UTC in a tie with the Bulldogs and Samford would gain the top seed by virtue of a sweep.
Larry Ward, the "Voice of the Lady Mocs", will have all the action live on the ESPN Radio 105.1 FM. Live stats, video and audio streaming will be available online at the official website of Chattanooga athletics, www.GoMocs.com.
