ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team left it all on the court at the Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville Sunday afternoon, but the No. 2 Chattanooga Mocs would prevail 63-53 over the No. 1 Terriers to claim the SoCon Championship. The Terriers drop to 22-9 with the result while the Mocs improve to 20-12.
 
"At the end of the day, they were better than us today," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "They did some things that were disruptive to us defensively, and we just never could quite rebound from that. The second and third quarters were the ones that really got us, and that's where they built their lead. We tried to make a couple of comebacks, and at the end of the day, we just couldn't get enough baskets to cut into that lead. I think our largest run was six. A couple of times, I think we had a chance to push that up, and we just couldn't get it to go.
 
"I told these guys all year long that they are a source of pride for Wofford College. Our locker room and our culture are off the charts right now. I have to hand it to Jackie (Carman) and Lilly (Hatton), our seniors and captains. They've just been unbelievably a privilege to coach. We have loved being around them. They have changed our program. I'm really excited for our future."
 
Upon the conclusion of the game, the Southern Conference announced the All-Tournament Teams, with four Terriers represented. SoCon Player of the Year Rachael Rose earned a first-team nod. Three Terriers placed on the second team, with Jackie Carman, Lilly Hatton and Helen Matthews garnering the selections. The four total selections are the most Wofford has ever had in a single tournament, doubling the previous high of two.
 
Wofford shot 33.9 percent in the contest and 36.0 percent from three. Chattanooga was firing on all cylinders offensively, shooting 51.2 percent. The Mocs also thrived inside, winning the paint battle 22-14 and outrebounding Wofford 36-24. But Wofford thrived on the turnover battle once more, forcing 15 Moc giveaways while committing just nine. The Terriers secured 21 points off turnovers, topping Chattanooga's mark of 14.
 
Helen Matthews paced the Terriers with 25 points, a career high. She added four rebounds, two steals and a block. Rachael Rose joined her in double figures with 15 points, securing six rebounds to pace the squad. She added a pair of assists.
 
"We just needed to score some points," said Matthews of her performance. "In the game the offense was a bit stagnant at some times. I really wanted it for our team and our seniors."
 
Jackie Carman netted eight points with three rebounds, and Annabelle Schultz added three points with two assists. Lilly Hatton rounds out Wofford's scoring with two points, contributing four boards as well.
 
"Team culture comes first," said the senior Hatton of her career. "We have a great coaching staff that establishes a baseline of respect and communication and self-aware basketball. We got our culture where we wanted it to be."
 
"I would second that (what Hatton said)," said the fifth-year senior Carman. "My freshman year, we had our first-ever tournament win. To be here reiterates that standard. I've enjoyed being a better team every year. I've loved every second of the last five years here."
 
The Mocs scored first, but Jackie Carman popped back-to-back threes to put Wofford in front. The Terriers stayed up, and an Annabelle Schultz three made the lead 10 points (17-7) with 1:52 to go. Chattanooga scored in the final minute to make the score 17-9 after a quarter.
 
The Mocs opened the second with five-straight points, but Rachael Rose hit a three to keep pace. However, Chattanooga responded with its own triple. The Mocs kept chipping away, and then they ended the half on a seven-point run to own a tight 31-29 edge entering the break,
 
Chattanooga remained hot entering the third, stretching its run to 13-straight points and a 37-29 lead with 6:36 to go. Helen Matthews hit a three to nix the run, and Annabelle Schultz immediately swiped the ball back, allowing Rachael Rose to score and pull Wofford within three points, 37-34, with 5:55 to go. This forced a Chattanooga timeout, out of which the Mocs immediately hit a three to quell Wofford's momentum. An eight-point run at the end of the quarter made the score 49-36 in favor of the Mocs entering the final frame.
 
Helen Matthews was determined not to quit, opening the fourth with a quick steal and fastbreak score, drawing a foul in the process for a three-point play. Rachael Rose followed with a three, and the Terriers were back to within seven points (49-42) with 8:55 to go. But Chattanooga again made a three, and though Wofford kept pushing the Mocs kept responding. Chattanooga would hold on and claim the 63-53 win.
 
"This one game doesn't define our season," said associate head coach Mike Merrill of the postgame message to the team. "Twenty-two wins, winning the regular season outright – there were a lot of great things that we did. And it's not our last game. That's back-to-back years we're in the postseason. We're going to focus on the positives right now. The locker room is hurt… but we are incredibly proud of them. They are a source of pride for the college."
 
Despite the result, the Terriers still delivered another historic campaign that is not quite over yet. Wofford will await Selection Sunday to learn its postseason determinations.