CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga women's basketball team is currently sitting in a three-way tie for first place and looking to hold on this week. The Mocs will travel to Western Carolina Thursday evening, looking to avenge its loss to the Catamounts earlier this season.
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Mocs at Western Carolina
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Site: Cullowhee, N.C. | Ramsey Center
The game will be aired live on ESPN+ and Larry Ward will have the call on WFLI and The Varsity Network. Live stats will be available at GoMocs.com or the GoMocs app.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
The Mocs fell 56-48 to the Catamounts at home. UTC scored just six points in the opening period but pulled to within two, 17-15, in the second quarter behind a pair of 3-pointers from freshman Brooklyn Crouch. The Mocs ended up trailing 31-20 at halftime. In the third quarter, UTC got to within a point, 35-34, with 3:35 to play on a steal and fast break by Sigrun Olafsdottir. Western Carolina, however, would lead 42-36 headed into the final 10 minutes. The Mocs pulled to within four points, 42-38, early in the fourth, but the Catamounts pushed the lead to double-digits, 54-41, on a 12-2 run. Chattanooga outscored Western Carolina 7-2 over the final three minutes, but it wouldn't be enough.
 
CHATTANOOGA (16-11, 8-4 SoCon)
The Mocs returned to the top of the league standings for the first time since 2020 and tied with Wofford and ETSU for the lead heading into the final week of the regular season. UTC leads SoCon in rebounding defense and are second in scoring defense (55.8), free throw percentage (.757), field goal percentage defense (.393) and defensive rebounds (25.8).
 
Yazz Wazeerud-Din leads the team in scoring with 15.7 points per game and has a team-best 61 3-pointers, three away from the Mocs' Top-10 for a season. Raven Thompson is second on the team in scoring with 14.6 points per game and third in rebounding, averaging 6.5 per game. She leads the SoCon in free throw shooting with 119 on the year, fourth most for the Mocs in a single-season and one away from the freshman record. Abbey Cornelius is the third Chattanooga player in double digits with 10.0 points per game and is second on the team in rebounding with 6.8 per game. She has a team-best 29 blocked shots. Addie Grace Porter leads the Mocs in rebounding with 7.2 per game and is fourth in scoring with 7.7 points per game. She has a team-best 76 assists.
 
WESTERN CAROLINA (9-18, 2-10 SoCon)
The Catamounts two wins in league play are against Wofford and Chattanooga, two of the teams sitting in first place. Western Carolina is on a five-game losing skid after getting the win over the Mocs. The Cats average 53.8 points and 34.1 rebounds per game. From the field WCU is shooting .365 and .275 from beyond the arc.
 
Kyla Allison (13.6) and Mya Love (10.5) are both averaging double digits for the Catamounts. Allison has a team-high 4.6 rebounds per game, 29 3-pointers and is shooting 41.7 percent. Love is the team's top free throw shooter making 67-of-93 and is shooting 40.2 percent from the field.