UTC women knock off Florida Gulf Coast, 68-61

In first half action, UTC's Shelbie Davenport grabs her left shoulder in the pain after a collision with Florida Gulf Coast defenders Sunday at McKenzie Arena. In first half action, UTC's Shelbie Davenport grabs her left shoulder in the pain after a collision with Florida Gulf Coast defenders Sunday at McKenzie Arena.

By Gene Henley December 18, 2017 4 min read

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UTC women knock off Florida Gulf Coast, 68-61

UTC's Bria Dial (12) forces a shot over Florida Gulf Coast's China Dow (22) after the Mocs take the lead late in the game Sunday at McKenzie Arena.

Florida Gulf Coast's Tytionia Adderly (42) reaches over to steal the ball from UTC's Aryanna Gilbert during first half basketball Sunday at McKenzie Arena.

UTC's Shelbie Davenport drives past Florida Gulf Coast's Tytionia Adderly (42) in second half action Sunday at McKenzie Arena.

Florida Gulf Coast's China Dow (22) attempts to block a hook shot by UTC's Shelbie Davenport (22) that fell for two of her back-to-back seven points to cut a Eagles lead to just three in the closing minutes of basketball Sunday at McKenzie Arena.

Florida Gulf Coast's Taylor Gradinjan (24) defends as UTC's Aryanna Gilbert drives for the shot Sunday at McKenzie Arena.

UTC women's basketball coach Jim Foster instructs Bria Dial from the sidelines during the Florida Gulf Coast basketball game Sunday at McKenzie Arena.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball coach Jim Foster didn’t have many options to work with during Sunday’s game against Florida Gulf Coast.

But the ones he did have available were really good when needed.

UTC, which entered the game as the No. 14 mid-major team in the country, outscored the Eagles – who were ranked third in the same poll – 24-7 in the final 6:43, overcoming a 10-point deficit and earning a 68-61 win at McKenzie Arena.

After the Mocs’ seventh victory in eight games, they travel to Gainesville, Fla., for games against Florida and Princeton on Wednesday and Thursday.

They played the second half of Sunday’s game with eight available players after Molly Melton went down in the first half with an apparent knee injury. Aryanna Gilbert scored a game-high 18 points. She was joined in double figures by Shelbie Davenport, who scored nine of her 13 in the fourth quarter, including seven straight on a pair of crafty inside moves and a 3-pointer.