UTC Rally Falls Short in 77-70 Loss to Samford

(gomocs.com) Chattanooga fell on the road at Samford in the Pete Hanna Center 77-70 on Thursday night. The Mocs had a chance to clinch a share of the SoCon Regular Season Title with a win, but those endeavors will have to wait until Saturday.

Chattanooga was playing behind the entire night, trailing by as many as 18 points. A late comeback that saw the away side get back to within four points with 1:18 remaining, ultimately fell short.

In the loss, Caia Elisaldez with 24 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds had a strong game. As did Gianna Corbitt who contributed 23 points and eight rebounds. Off the bench, Chattanooga got key minutes from London Weaver, who scored a career-high 11 points with three made triples.

Samford had two key advantages in the team box score, as it knocked down 10 triples to Chattanooga’s four while making 19 free throws to the Mocs’ eight. Sierra Godbolt scored 18 points while Brianna Rivera scored 16 points to lead the way for the Bulldogs. The duo made a combined six 3-pointers.

Records
Chattanooga: 18-8, 10-3 SoCon
Samford: 13-17, 6-7 SoCon

Behind two quick triples from Rivera, Samford jumped ahead 12-4 in the first five minutes of the game. Samford’s lead reached as big as nine points at the 1:54 mark. The Mocs did score the final three points though, capped off by a transition layup from Corbitt to cut the lead to 20-15 after one quarter.

It took the Bulldogs just over three minutes in the second quarter to push their lead back to double figures at 30-19, after a layup by Godbolt. The Mocs struggled to get stops as at the 1:50 mark, Samford led 39-25. A 6-2 run by Chattanooga, capped off by a basket from Weaver put the away side to within 10 at 41-31 at the break.

An 8-0 run for Samford to start the third quarter put it in front 18 points at the 7:44 mark for its biggest lead of the game. The Mocs battled back as the quarter progressed, scoring 11 of the game’s next 14 points to put the score at 52-42. Weaver knocked down UTC’s first 3-pointer of the game at the 2:44 mark, as Chattanooga ended the quarter down 60-50.

The lead remained around nine or 10 points for Samford until Weaver buried a 3-pionter followed by layup from Elisaldez put Chattanooga to within four points at 68-64. That is as close at UTC got though as Samford made nine free throws in the closing minutes to hold on to the win.

Chattanooga moves to 32-13 all-time against Samford and are 12-8 on the road at Samford.

Head Coach Deandra Schirmer
Opening Statement
“We were very undisciplined today to start the game. We let them get hot in their home gym, and a talented offensive team like Samford, you can’t let them get going like that. I was proud of how we fought back after being down 18 points in the third to cut the lead to four. This has to be a lesson to us on how we need to come out in games. The last couple of games we have been flat, and it’s unacceptable.”

UP NEXT: Chattanooga wraps up the regular season on Saturday at Mercer. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.