Lady Mocs hammer Crimson Tide

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo UTC Mocs logo
Arkansas-Oklahoma State Live Blog

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team improved to 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play Saturday with a 72-58 win against Alabama at Foster Auditorium.

UTC, a member of the Southern Conference, got 19 points and seven rebounds from Taylor Hall and 17 points and eight rebounds from Ashlen Dewart in beating the Crimson Tide (5-2). The Lady Mocs (7-1) upset Tennessee to open the season, on Nov. 9, and will try for 3-0 against the SEC on Dec. 19 at Auburn.

Being 2-0 against the SEC "does mean something," UTC coach Wes Moore said.

"It's a good win for the program and I'm happy for the girls," he said. "Any time you beat an SEC team, especially on the road, it's a pretty big deal."

The Lady Mocs got off to a fast start, hitting 12 of their first 20 shots. The game was tied at 7 when UTC assumed control with a 19-3 run that made it 26-10 with 10:42 left in the opening half.

UTC's lead was 41-27 at halftime and stayed in double digits for most of the second half. However, the Lady Mocs held off a couple of Alabama surges. The margin was 52-45 with 9:26 left, but a Kayla Christopher 3-pointer pushed the lead back to 10.

The Lady Mocs hurt themselves with 22 turnovers, 13 coming in the second half, but finished 10-of-25 from 3-point range. In addition, UTC outrebounded the Crimson Tide 57-40. Five Lady Mocs had at least six rebounds, including 10 by Christopher.

Kylie Lambert added 13 points and nine rebounds for UTC, while Ka'Vonne Towns went 3-for-3 on 3s and scored 11 points.

UTC will be back at McKenzie Arena on Wednesday, hosting Jacksonville State.