Chattanooga 96, Wofford 62

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Senior Jennifer Weurding became the Southern Conference's all-time leader in blocked shots but her all-around solid game could not carry Wofford to victory Tuesday afternoon, as the Terriers dropped a 96-62 decision to seven-time defending league champion Chattanooga inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena in Spartanburg, S.C.

Weurding, needing two blocks entering the game to break the 18-year record held by Appalachian State's Valorie Whiteside (1984-88), established the new mark when she swatted an Ashley Huff layup attempt with 3:19 remaining in the first half. The Wofford center finished with four blocked shots on the afternoon to raise the mark to 197, surpassing Whiteside's 195. Weurding also finished with nine points and a team-high tying seven rebounds, including six on the defensive glass. The seven boards by Weurding were matched by sophomore Summer Nichols as the Terriers ended the game with a 45-44 rebound advantage over the Lady Mocs, becoming just the third team this season to out-rebound Chattanooga.

Wofford's Jenny Weurding became the SoCon all-time blocks leader Tuesday night.

The Lady Mocs opened the contest with nine-straight points, including seven from Brooke Hand, before sophomore Liz Miller gave Wofford (6-5, 0-2 SoCon) its first bucket at 17:07. The lead quickly grew into double digits and back-to-back 3-pointers by Hand and Jenaya Wade-Fray increased the advantage to 18, 22-4, with 14:04 remaining in the first stanza. Senior Mary Jo Yee countered with a triple of her own and Weurding also added a trey followed by a layup by junior Kelsi Koenig to cut the deficit to 10, 24-14, with 11:50 left, and cap a 10-2 Terrier run.

The two teams traded free throws and buckets before Hand hit her final 3-pointer to make it 36-18 with 7:40 remaining. Wofford again chipped away at the lead, bringing the score to 12, 36-24, on a 6-0 run. Weurding tallied four points in the surge.

Chattanooga (7-4, 1-0 SoCon) would not allow the Terriers to get any closer the remainder of the half, outscoring the hosts 11-3 down the stretch to take a 47-27 halftime lead.

A scoring slump was not in order during the second half for the Lady Mocs, either, as they came out and hit their first three shots and increased their lead to 25, 56-31, on a layup by two-time SoCon Player of the Week selection Alex Anderson. Freshman Kelly Dwyer's jumper brought the margin back to 20 with 13:36 to go and senior K.C. Correll trimmed it to 17, 66-49, with 8:59 left.

Baskets on its last five possessions resulted in a late scoring surge for Chattanooga before Dwyer hit a 3-pointer as time expired to close the game.

Anderson finished with a game-high 22 points, while Erin Ogan registered her first career double-double with 11 points and a career and game-high 11 boards. Hand garnered 13 points, while Laura Hall poured in 12 for the Lady Mocs.

Miller led the Terriers in scoring for the third-straight contest with 13, including 5-of-5 from the foul line to extend her consecutive free throws streak to 10. She also dished out a game-high six assists. Koenig matched Weurding with nine points. Wofford converted 12-of-15 (80.0 percent) free throws as a team.

The Terriers will return to action in their final game before the holiday break with a 2 p.m. non-conference matchup Friday at ACC foe Clemson. The Lady Tigers will represent the third and final ACC school on Wofford's slate this season. Chattanooga returns home Thursday to battle UNC Asheville.