The last time the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team suited up, it played as well as it has all season. The Lady Mocs thumped Samford 92-62 last Saturday with the top seed in the Southern Conference tournament on the line.
A lot of time will have passed since the win before UTC (21-8, 16-4) faces either No. 8 Western Carolina or No. 9 UNC Greensboro in the quarterfinals Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, but Lady Mocs coach Wes Moore believes his team can keep that momentum going.
"That's still the last taste in your mouth, so whether it's three days or five days, whatever, I think you still feel good about it," Moore said. "I think you reflect on the things you did well and try to build on those."
The ups and downs of the Lady Mocs' season -- a 24-point season-opening loss at East Tennessee State, a 22-point loss at Samford, a 13-game win streak, a 30-point win over Samford -- might even help UTC, Moore said.
"Maybe we'll be focused and realize that we have to do the little things and play well if we're going to be successful," he said.
For UTC's seniors, this is their last SoCon tournament and last chance to reach the NCAA tournament. Shanara Hollinquest, Jenaya Wade-Fray and Tagan Hatchett (who's out with a knee injury) reached the NCAAs their first two seasons, but missed out last season after losing in the SoCon tournament. Megan Rollins, a junior college transfer, has yet to play in the NCAA tournament.
"This is the last chapter in our careers, and we want to see how far we can go," Hollinquest said.
The Lady Mocs comfortably swept UNC Greensboro (9-19, 6-14) during the regular season. UTC beat Western Carolina (7-22, 6-14) by two at McKenzie Arena and lost by two in overtime in Cullowhee.
If UTC advances it will face either No. 4 College of Charleston (19-10, 13-7) or No. 5 Georgia Southern (18-11, 13-7), on Sunday. The Lady Mocs split their games with the Cougars -- both teams won by double digits at home -- and swept Georgia Southern.