John Shulman had some funny one-liners and spoke in a serious tone about senior Ty Patterson collapsing to the floor in the last game of the year.
But the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s coach knew the Lady Mocs were the headliners of the annual UTC basketball awards banquet Tuesday night.
“I got more emotional listening to them, the seniors, than at any other moment,” UTC women’s coach Wes Moore said. “This is a special class of seniors that accomplished incredible things.”
Shanara Hollinquest, Jenaya Wade-Fray, Tagan Hatchett — with help the last two years from junior college transfer Megan Rollins — won four Southern Conference regular-season titles and three tournament championships. They went to the Women’s NIT the only year they didn’t go to the NCAA tournament.
“It’s an overwhelming night,” Hollinquest said minutes after former Lady Moc Shamaya Sermons delivered the charge to seniors that included an original poem. “It felt bittersweet. It’s been a great year, a great four years.”