GREENSBORO, N.C. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team outscored UNCG 32-12 in the second quarter to push past the Spartans 73-57 for a Southern Conference win at Fleming Gym. Chattanooga improves to 15-8 overall and 6-3 in league play. UNCG drops to 10-14 on the year and 4-5 against the SoCon.
 
Keiana Gilbert led the Mocs with a game-high 21 points adding five assists and four steals. Aryanna Gilbert was 7-of-12 from the floor with a pair of 3-pointers for 18 points and eight rebounds. Arianne Whitaker was the third Chattanooga player in double figures, matching her career-high with 15 points and nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
"This is two games in a row we have started to play a full 40 minutes," Chattanooga head coach Jim Foster said. "Two games in a row where we have taken care of the basketball. Two games in a row where we are taking advantage of quality shots and mismatches, and Kei just feeling very comfortable running the point and looking to score."
 
Heading into the second quarter with the game tied 11-11, the Mocs scored the first six points to stretch its lead to 17-11 less than two minutes into the frame. The Mocs continued to push the pace with a 9-0 run to double the Spartans offensive output 28-14 with 6:16 to play in the second. By halftime, the lead would be 20 for the Mocs, 43-23.
 
In the third, Chattanooga got out front by as much as 24 points three times, but the Spartans used a 9-0 run of its own to cut the lead to 54-41 with 1:25 to play in the third quarter.
 
"With the game the way it is played today with the shot clock, with eliminating the timeouts by going to quarters, the game just goes up and down a lot more," Foster said. "Runs are a significant part of this thing now. All of the stop and starting wasn't as prevalent as it is now. No lead is safe and the game is just a little bit different as a result."
 
Chattanooga held off UNCG in the fourth quarter, beginning with a 9-3 run to start the period, making it a 69-47 lead. UNCG's Nadine Soliman scored six of the Spartan's next 10 points to make it 69-57 but her shot with 2:34 to play would be the last for UNCG while Keiana Gilbert added four more to the Mocs' lead to end the game.
 
On the boards, the Mocs edged UNCG 33-32 and shot 53.7 percent, making 29-of-54 for the game. UTC was 13-of-18 (72.2%) in the second quarter. In the paint, Chattanooga outscored the Spartans 36-26.
 
Nadine Soliman paced the Spartans with 21 points, making 9-of-15 and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Te'ja Twitty added 10 points and Ije Ajemba had a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
The Mocs return home next weekend to take on East Tennessee State at The McKenzie Arena. The game is set to tip off at 2:00 p.m. as the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team. Tickets on sale at the McKenzie Arena box office and online at GoMocs.com.
 
Join the Mocs in celebrating Chattanooga head coach Jim Foster's 900^th career victory. There will be giveaways at the gate and a video presentation to follow the game.