JONESBORO, Ark. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team rallied from a 16-point deficit to pull within four points, but could close it out, falling 57-52 to Arkansas State Monday night at the Convocation Center.
Chattanooga (4-3), trailing 52-36 with 9:12 to play, outscored the Red Wolves 16-4 over the next 7:21, making all seven of its attempts in the run, including a 3-pointer from senior Ka'Vonne Towns (Lilburn, Ga.) who finished the game with 12 points.
Freshman Keiana Gilbert (Columbia, Tenn.) scored eight points in the run and led the Mocs with 15 points, making 7-of-10 from the field and grabbing four rebounds. Towns was 4-of-6 from the floor, making 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and sophomore Aryanna Gilbert (Columbia, Tenn.) added eight points for Chattanooga.
Sophomore Jasmine Joyner (Southaven, Miss.) passed Taylor Hall (2010-14) for third place on the Mocs' all-time blocked shots chart with six on the night and 81 for her career. She led UTC on the board with six and chipped in four points in just 24 minutes on the floor.
After falling behind 8-3 early, the Mocs rallied back to take a 10-8 lead on a 3-pointer from Towns with 12:22 to go in the first. Arkansas State (3-2) briefly took back the lead going up 15-14 with 9:43 to play on a pair of free throws from Aundrea Gamble.
Over the next 3:45 Chattanooga outscored the Red Wolves 10-4 to take its largest lead of the game, 24-19 with 5:48 in the first half. But it would be all Arkansas State over the remainder of the frame scoring 14 points while the Mocs missed seven straight shots and committed four turnovers to trail 33-26 at intermission.
The second half started with the Mocs missing their first five attempts and turning the ball over four times, allowing Arkansas State to stretch its lead to 42-26 with 14:36 to play. That lead would stay in double figures over the next 9:31 before Towns' 3-pointer with 3:58 to play cut the Red Wolves lead to 56-47.
That shot was in the midst of a 12-0 run by the Mocs who got to within four points, 56-52, on a free throw from Towns with 1:23 remaining. Chattanooga, however, missed its final three attempts and ASU made one of its two free throw attempts for the final tally.
Chattanooga shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) for the game connecting on 50 percent of its shots in the second half, while making just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc. UTC outrebounded Arkansas State 32-30 and had eight blocks on the night.
Arkansas State's Gamble led all scorers with 22 points making 7-of-12 from the field with two treys and was 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Jasmine Hunt was the only other player in double figures for the Red Wolves with 10 points and six rebounds. Khadijah Brown-Haywood had nine points and a game-high seven rebounds.
The Mocs will be off for exams, returning to the floor Thursday, December 11 at Belmont. The game is set to tip off at 5 p.m. Eastern time.
