Women's Basketball Southern Conference

Lady Mocs Survive Troy State Scare, 59-58

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Two free throws by Jennifer Wilson with 13.2 seconds left gave Chattanooga just enough breathing room to hold off Troy State
Thursday night, and the Lady Mocs escaped McKenzie Arena with a 59-58 non-conference women's basketball victory. It was UTC's fifth straight win on the season.

The game was tied 55-all when Troy State's Kim McGriff nailed a jumper with 1:09 to play. Following a missed 3-pointer by UTC and a Troy State turnover, UTC's Shamya Sermons hit a layup on Wilson's assist with 36.4 seconds to play. Sermons picked up a steal on TSU's next possession and the Lady Trojans were forced to foul.

Wilson was fouled and canned both ends of a pressure-packed one-plus-one for a 59-55 lead. Troy State's Chaquita Alexander nailed a 3-pointer with 2.1 showing on the clock, and TSU immediately fouled again.

UTC (5-1) could not convert the one-plus-one and Troy State (2-4) got a time out with 0.4 seconds left. TSU's Kerri Fiehrer tried to heave a three-quarter-court shot, but it was smacked away by Heather McDivitt.

"Enthusiasm is contagious and tonight shooting was contagious and we had an epidemic," said UTC coach Wes Moore. UTC shot a horrific 31.4 percent from the field and just 20 percent (5-for-25) on 3's.

Chattanooga won the game with offensive rebounds, grabbing 13 in the second half. Sermons had four of her five offensive rebounds in the second half
and Katasha Brown had three. "No doubt, that saved us," Moore said. UTC had nine second-chance points in the second half compared to zero for Troy State.

Brown, who came into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in 3-point accuracy, struggled with her teammates, but she warmed up in the final 20
minutes. She managed to lead the team with 11 points and pulled six
rebounds. Wilson finished with 10 points and six boards.

Sermons grabbed 11 rebounds to go with eight points and two blocks. Angela
Hunter and McDivitt both had four assists. Chattanooga forced Troy State
into 21 turnovers and the Lady Mocs won the board war 44-39. UTC was solid
at the free-throw line, hitting 10-of-13.

Troy State was led by Thea Herring and Alexander with 17 points each.
Herring added nine boards and Alexander grabbed seven. Constance Kelly had
10 points and Fiehrer dished out eight assists.

UTC hits the road for its next four games, starting Sunday at Conference
USA foe Louisville (2 p.m.). Chattanooga then ventures to Hawaii to play in
the Ala Moana Paradise Classic with a first-round date against ninth-ranked
Texas Tech.