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The Mocs are 22-7 on the year and 12-2 in league play, claiming a 20th league title and fourth straight. UTC tied Mercer for the title and Bears owned the tiebreak giving UTC the second seed. Chattanooga has won its last eight regular season games and 13 of its last 15. In the NCAA standings, UTC is 52nd for its won-lost record. The Mocs rank first in fewest fouls per game (11.5), third in blocked shots per game (6.5) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (24.7). Chattanooga is first in the Southern Conference for field goal percentage, making 42.5 percent of its attempts and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (30.9). 

Jasmine Joyner leads the nation in total blocked shots (117) and is second in blocked shots per game (4.03). She leads the league in rebouding with 9.1 per game and is seventh in scoring with 12.8 points per game. She has recorded nine double-doubles this season, scored a season-high 31 points against UT Martin and twice tied her school record for blocked shots with eight against Wofford and Western Carolina. Keiana Gilbert ranks second on the team in scoring with 12.7 points per game and is 14th in the SoCon for rebounding with 5.4 per game. From the field,she is shooting 47.3 percent, just a mere percentage point ahead of Joyner (.470). Queen Alford came on strong in SoCon play, leading the team with 14.4 ppg against the conference and is third overall in scoring with 10.8 points per game after leading UTC to a win over WCU with 20 pionts. She topped 1,000 career points from her two seasons at JU and  her one here at UTC. Alicia Payne leads the team in assists and steals and is ranked second in the league in assist-turnover ratio (2.0)

Head Coach Jim Foster has 863 career wins, passing former Georgia Head Coach Andy Landers for DI wins and tying Montana's Robin Selvig. Coach Foster is in his 38th year of coaching at his fourth institution.

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Samford ended the season at 19-10 overall and 11-3 in league play to secure the No. 3 seed. The Bulldogs are at the bottom of the rankings in the SoCon for scoring with just 55.9 points per game but lead the league allowing just 50.2 points per game for a 5.7 scoring margin, second in the standings. Samford's defense is first in field goal percentage defense with opponents making just 35.7 percent of their shots and second (behind Chattanooga) in 3-point field goal percentage defense with opposing offenses making just 26.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Taylor Reece leads the team in scoring with 9.2 points per game, ranking 15th with teammate Destiney Elliot two spots behind with 9.0 points per game. Elliott leads the team in rebouding with 7.3 per game, sixth in the SoCon and is 10th in field goal percentage, making 42.4 percent of her attempts. Reece is shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the arc. Kassidy Blevins has a team-best average from long range making 46-of-124 (37.1%).

Mike Morris is in his 14th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. He led Samford to back-to-back SoCon titles in 2011 and 2012.
 

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Chattanooga and Samford have met 24 times with UTC leading the series 17-7. In Southern Conference action, the Mocs are 11-5 against the Bulldogs. UTC won six straight games including a double-overtime game in Birmingham in 2014. However, the Bulldogs snapped that streak with a win in Birmingham earlier this season. UTC got back on the winning track against the Bulldogs winning the last meeting.

Overall Record    UTC leads 17-7
SoCon Record    UTC leads 11-5
Home Record    10-2
Away Record    6-5
Neutral Record    1-0
Overtime Record    2-1

Most points scored
    Chattanooga    105    11/27/2001    Away-Win    105-42
    Samford    77    01/20/1999    Away-Loss    59-77
Fewest points scored
    Chattanooga    43    01/23/2016    Away-Loss    43-48
    Samford    32    01/26/2015    Home-Win    49-32
Largest Margin of Victory
    Chattanooga    63 pts    11/27/2001    Away-Win    105-42
    Samford    22 pts    11/30/2009    Away-Loss    52-74
Smallest Margin of Victory
    Chattanooga    1 pts    12/01/2008    Home-Win    55-54
    Samford    2 pts    03/06/2011    Home-Loss    66-68 OT