The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team was unable to avoid adding to its losing skid Saturday afternoon, but the Mocs’ ninth defeat in a row was of the narrow variety as North Alabama won 74-71 at McKenzie Arena.
The Mocs (1-11) never led, but they trimmed the deficit to 72-71 with seven seconds to play after Amaria Pugh got a steal and made a layup. The Lions (5-5) turned the ball over, but UTC’s Dena Jarrells then missed a short jumper that was rebounded by North Alabama’s Alexis Callins, who knocked down a pair of free throws.
Jarrells’ last-second heave bounced off the backboard and hit the rim before falling out.
Abbey Cornelius led the Mocs with 18 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, and she also had two assists and a steal. Brooke Hampel added 11 points and five boards, while Pugh, Sigrun Olafsdottir and Addie Porter scored nine each and Jarrells finished with eight. Olafsdottir also had six rebounds, three steals and two assists.
“My message to the team is that they’ve got to keep their heads up and keep moving forward,” UTC coach Katie Burrows said. “We can’t change it; we can only try to be better moving forward. They’re brokenhearted, and I am for them, so I’m just trying to give them some positives. One who is looking from the outside in doesn’t see all the positives.