ASHEVILLE, N.C. – It was a battle of regular-season Southern Conference co-champions. The tradition of Chattanooga against the upstart newcomer Mercer. In the end, experience won out in a 65-57 Mocs win in the title game of the 2016 Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale.
It’s the 17th SoCon tournament championship for UTC and fourth in a row, a feat that has been accomplished just one other time, by Chattanooga from 2001-04.
Queen Alford led a balanced Mocs attack with 17 points and six rebounds. Mercer was paced by KeKe Calloway with 18 off the bench.
Chattanooga led for virtually the entire contest (38:41). It took its largest lead of 13, 51-38, with 51 seconds left in the third quarter. The game looked firmly in control, but Mercer had other ideas.
The Bears jumped out strong to start the fourth with a 16-2 run, taking a 54-53 lead on Kahlia Lawrence’s jumper with 4:07 to play. The Mocs had all the answers.
Jasmine Joyner turned the tide with a layup to regain the lead at 3:20. That sparked a 9-0 spurt for an eight-point lead, 62-54, on Alford’s layup. It never got closer than seven the rest of the way. The Mocs’ defense stifled Mercer, allowing just one made basket in seven attempts (14.3 percent) down the stretch.
Payne, the 2016 tournament Most Outstanding Player and a two-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, had 12 points, four rebounds and five assists while playing outstanding defense on 2016 SoCon Player of the Year Lawrence. Keiana Gilbert added 16 points and seven boards and Joyner tallied a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Sydni Means had another fantastic effort for the Bears. Her 15 points, five rebounds and five assists helped key the comeback that just fell short.
Chattanooga awaits the NCAA tournament selection show to determine its dance partner and location. The show is Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m., on ESPN.
ALL-SOCON TOURNAMENT TEAM
Alicia Payne, Chattanooga (Most Outstanding Player)
First team
KeKe Calloway, Mercer
Sydni Means, Mercer
Queen Alford, Chattanooga
Jasmine Joyner, Chattanooga
Alicia Payne, Chattanooga
Second team
Whitney Bunn, Furman
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Kahlia Lawrence, Mercer
Kassidy Blevins, Samford
Keiana Gilbert, Chattanooga
-www.SoConSports.com-