Box Score Box score
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. -- Despite the Terriers jumping out to a 52-41 halftime lead on the wings of a 67 percent field goal percentage and an 81 percent three point percentage in the first half, Wofford let the UT-Chattanooga Mocs slip away with a 93-88 come-from-behind win in The McKenzie Arena Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference showdown.
The Terriers opened the game with 16-3 run just under five minutes into the game highlighted by two Jessica Escorza three pointers and four April Moorhouse points in the paint. With 13:33 to play in the half, a Tenisha Townsend jumper pulled the Mocs within eight points, as Chattanooga keep the game in check until the Terriers broke a 28-20 game at the 9:36 mark with a 12-2 run over three minutes of play.
The Terriers knocked down three three pointers, two from Rachel Brittenham and one from Maddie Helms, during the run that gave Wofford the largest lead of the game 18 points, 40-22, with 6:15 remaining in the game.
Two free throws by Whitney Hood cut the margin the 11 with just over four minutes to play, but two Moorhouse baskets and an Ashely Kroker three gave the Terriers a 47-31 lead with two and a half minutes to play. Wofford closed the half up 11, 52-41, as Townsend drained a long three at the buzzer for Chattanooga.
Wofford made 21 of their 31 shots in the half from the floor for their sizzling 67 percent and made 9 of their 11 three pointers for their 81 percent three point percentage. Wofford had four different players make two or more three pointers in the half -- Escorza, Brittenham, Helms and Kroker.
Coming out of the half, an Escorza basket gave Wofford a 14 point lead, 66-52, with 15:52 to play in the game. Three minutes later a hood post move and basket gave, cut the lead to six 68-62, but on Wofford’s ensuing possession Helms drained on of Wofford’s three second half threes to cut the lead to nine, 71-62.
Chattanooga would go on an 8-0 run to to cut the lead to 71-70, but a Daniella Motley layup gave wWofford a 73-70 lead with 9:26 remaining. Two minutes later, a Kylie Lambert gave the Mocs their first lead of the game 74-73, with eight minutes to play. Moorhouse banked in a three on the next possession.
Wofford held a four-point lead on a Brittenham bucket with just over five minutes to play, but Kayla Christopher made two free throws. Wofford’s next possession April Moorhouse would make the Terriers final basket until 16 seconds to play to make it 85-81 with 3:20 to play.
The Mocs cut the lead to 85-83 on a Hood basket, and then took the lead, 86-85, on a Hood three-point play with 1:35 remaining. Chattanooga would score seven of the game’s remaining ten points to claim the 93-88 win.
Wofford finished with a 57 percent field goal percentage and a 50 percent three point percentage compared to Chattanooga’s 39 percent from the floor and 30 percent from three.
The Terriers benched out scored the Mocs bench 37-3. Twenty-three of those for Wofford came in the first half. The Terriers surrended 25 offensive rebounds and gave up 36 second chance points. Wofford only managed seven offensive rebounds and 34 total rebounds to Chattanooga’s 47 rebounds.
The Terriers committed 27 fouls compared to 11 fouls against the Mocs. Chattanooga was 26-of-38 from the free throw line compared to Wofford’s 4-of-10.
Moorhouse paced the Terriers with 17 points and nine rebounds as Wofford had four other players score double-digit points. Maddie Helms added 15 points going 5-of-7 from three point range, and Rachel Brittenham had 14 points and a career-high 11 assists. Jessica Escorza and Daniella Motley had ten points apiece.
For the Mocs, Hood became only the third player in Chattanooga history to score 40 points. Her 40 points set a new arena record and the most points scored in a game this season in the Southern Conference. She was was 15-of-32 from the floor and 10-of-13 from the free throw line. She also collect 12 rebounds to earn the double-double. Christopher and Townsend added 16 points, and Lambert notched 13 points.
The Terriers (5-6, 1-2) will travel to Samford for their next game on January 4th with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
Game notes:
Wofford’s 52 first half points were the most points the Terriers had scored this year in a half and the most points the Mocs had given up in a half. Chattanooga returned the favor in the second half with 52 points, which is the most Wofford has given up in a half this season and the most the Mocs had scored this season.
The Terriers 23 assists ties the team for fifth with assists in a single game and Brittenham’s 11 assists ties her for second all-time for assists in a single game.
Wofford’s 12 made three pointers ties a school record for team three pointers made in a single game.
Wofford has gone 26 consecutive games, 12 seasons, without a win against Chattanooga. The five-point margin of defeat is the second slimmest margin of defeat in during the run. The Terriers lost 65-61 in overtime on March 2, 2002.
