Bria Dial's buzzer-beating 3-pointer completed a spirited comeback by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team Saturday afternoon in Spartanburg, South Carolina, as the Mocs beat Wofford 51-49 for a pivotal Southern Conference win.
UTC (8-17, 7-4) trailed 31-18 at halftime after being hampered by early foul trouble for key players. The Terriers' advantage was six points entering the fourth quarter, but Abbey Cornelius and Lakelyn Bouldin hit back-to-back baskets for the visitors' first lead at 42-41 with 3:20 to play.
The lead changed hands four times over the next three minutes, with Wofford (14-12, 7-4) taking a 49-48 edge on Lilly Hatton's layup with seven seconds to play. After a timeout, the Mocs got the ball in to Cornelius, who drove the baseline and kicked out to Dial in the corner, where the 6-foot junior nailed the winner.
"I told them if we can get an attack, we'll be in good shape," UTC coach Katie Burrows said. "Bria Dial, wow. I'm going to kid her: 'Girl, you can't hit a layup, but you can stroke a 3.'"
Dial finished with a game-high 15 points and also had eight rebounds and two blocks, with Bouldin adding 11 points and Cornelius grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.
The final quarter started with a 4-0 UTC run to cut Wofford's lead to 37-35 at the 8:08 mark. The Terriers struck back to build their lead to 41-35 with 6:10 to play. With a 7-0 run over the next 1:44, UTC took a 42-41 lead with 3:20 remaining on Bouldin's short jumper off an offensive rebound.
Hatton drained a 3-pointer for Wofford to regain the lead just 10 seconds later at 44-42, but UTC responded with a layup from NaKeia Burks to tie. She was fouled on the drive and made the free throw to put UTC up 45-44.
Wofford came back with a 3-pointer to make it 47-45 in its favor, but Dial's 3-pointer with 1:34 on the clock put the Mocs in front for the third time in the quarter. The lead wouldn't last after Hatton's putback with less than 10 seconds to play, but Burrows drew up what the Mocs and Dial made sure was the winning play.
The Mocs are now a half-game behind SoCon leaders Samford and UNC Greensboro in the standings, each with a 7-3 league mark, and are tied with Wofford after completing a regular-season sweep of the Terriers.
UTC finishes the regular season with three home games, starting with a visit from Mercer (6-19, 3-7) at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Mocs host Samford next Saturday and East Tennessee State a week later.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.