The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga had to work a little overtime to pull out a critical Southern Conference women’s basketball victory Saturday at East Tennessee State University.
The Mocs needed three overtime periods to win 91-82 against their rivals in Johnson City, using a 9-0 run in the final five minutes to seal it. Eboni Williams had a monster game for coach Katie Burrows’ squad, finishing with 25 points (13 in the three overtimes) and 16 rebounds, with Bria Dial adding 21 points, Abbey Cornelius 18 and Lakelyn Bouldin 13 for the Mocs (5-16, 4-3).
“What a battle from a pair of teams who are hungry for wins,” said Burrows, whose team bounced back after two straight losses on the road. “It was a very physical game. We figured that out early on that it was going to be physical.”
UTC led by 13 three minutes into the third quarter, but the Buccaneers (7-15, 2-5) cut the margin to four to start the final 10 minutes. They cut it to 58-57 with 18 seconds to go in regulation on E’Lease Stafford’s two free throws, then sent it to overtime when she converted a drive with just a few seconds left.
The lead changed hands five times in the first overtime and the Mocs held a 77-73 lead in the second extra session, but they couldn’t hold the lead in either situation. Both teams missed shots in the final minute of the second overtime.