CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Each championship celebration is a little different.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach Wes Moore cut down the net, descended the ladder and tossed the net to longtime supporter Dean Heavener minutes after the Lady Mocs beat Samford 72-67 in the Southern Conference women's basketball tournament final Monday evening.
From the other end of the court in Time Warner Arena, UTC seniors Shanara Hollinquest and Jenaya Wade-Fray sneaked a 5-gallon water jug into the locker room.
In several of Moore's other seven SoCon championships, he's appeared at the postgame news conference drenched with water or PowerAde or both. Monday, he arrived dry and with his hair in place.
"This one, I hate to say it, this is one almost a relief," said Moore, who is 8-0 in SoCon championship games. "We've been through so much. We've got four freshmen that played big roles. Two started tonight. And when you're dealing with freshmen, what do you say?
"It's a relief. We are very fortunate. We've had ups and downs, a few bad losses and few good wins."
Moore stepped down from the podium, took off his tie and headed to the locker room. He had an idea of what awaited.
Hollinquest and Wade-Fray emptied the bucket's icy contents all over his shirt and slacks. They celebrated as a team with screams, cheers, shouts and prayer before Moore headed out -- walking around Time Warner Arena -- in search of dry clothes.
Winning the championship may be old hat, but it never gets old.
"It's a real good feeling," said Wade-Fray, a senior who was the first to grab the big trophy from SoCon commissioner John Iamarino. "This is what we've been working for all year -- to cut down that net."
Hollinquest led the Lady Mocs with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The tournament most outstanding player set a school record with 14 made free throws without a miss.
"The main thing going through my head (during free throws)," Hollinquest said, "was keep my elbow in and Coach Nikki's (Blassingame) voice in my head."
Michelle Davis added 16 points despite being a step slow on defense due to exhaustion. She hit four 3-pointers. Two came in the final three minutes -- giving UTC its first second-half lead and then extending the lead to four points.
"It's the championship game," the freshman said. "You have to leave it all out there no matter how tired you are. At the end of the game you don't feel anything. You just play your heart out."
Wade-Fray and Kayla Christopher each had 11 points for the Lady Mocs, who had only eight players available due to injuries. Megan Rollins underwent hand surgery Sunday after their semifinal win.
"This is all about the players," Moore said. "I was kind of lost over there. Samford was hitting on all cylinders. Players stepped up and made great plays. We're very fortunate to have the talent we have.
"I'm very happy the seniors have one more chance to go to the NCAAs."
Savannah Hill came within one point of her career high in scoring 26 points for the Bulldogs. Emily London and Monica Maxwell scored 12 and 10.
"It's definitely not the way we wanted the game to go," Samford coach Mike Morris said. "We were in new territory being the first time we played in conference finals.
"I give credit to Chattanooga. They have the experience and it showed up in the end. I thought we had a chance to win the game."
The Bulldogs dominated the game for a 10-minute stretch in the first half. The Lady Mocs led 22-11 before Samford outscored them 27-8 to finish the half. Samford led 38-30 at the break.
"Today I messed up in the first half," Moore said. "I should have called time out when they made their run. I have a tendency to let the team play through it, and I was kicking myself at halftime."
UTC still trailed by 11 points with 11 minutes to go before starting to chip away at Samford's lead. UTC started going inside to Hollinquest, who had 16 points in the second half.
After Davis' go-ahead 3 with 3:03 to go, Hollinquest scored inside, Tenisha Townsend hit a 3 and Davis hit another for a 64-60 lead with 1:27 to go.
The Lady Mocs made eight of 10 free throws in the final 50 seconds.
"I got the mentality that I have to get it done," Hollinquest said. "I attacked more, got to the free-throw line more, and I think that made a big difference."