Keiana Gilbert Hits Shot in the Final Seconds to Lift UTC Over Arkansas State

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team overcame a 17-point deficit Wednesday night at the McKenzie Arena to get a 55-54 win over Arkansas State. The Mocs improve to 4-2 on the year while the Red Wolves suffer their first loss at 3-1.

Arkansas State came out on fire to start the second half hitting five 3-pointers in the first 3:17 of the third quarter to take a 41-25 lead on the Mocs. Sophomore Aryanna Gilbert ended Chattanooga’s scoring drought with a layup at 6:22 of the period, but the Red Wolves’ Aundrea Gamble got an old-fashioned 3-point play to make it 44-27 with 6:10 in the third.

Sophomore Anna Claire Noblit drained her first three 3-pointer of the night with 5:58 to play in the frame, sparking a 20-0 run that spilled over into the fourth quarter. Joyner hit a layup to tie it 44-44 with 6:03 to play and Noblit capped off the run with her third 3-pointer to give Chattanooga a 47-44 lead, its first since the second quarter.

Gamble scored the next five points for Arkansas State to retake the lead, but a layup from senior Alicia Payne with 3:26 to play tied the contest for the fourth time. The lead changed three more times in the final minutes with Chattanooga getting the final basket for the win.

Sophomore Keiana Gilbert scored six points in the last 41 seconds, putting UTC up twice with the game winner falling with 6.6 seconds to play. She was able to get a handle on the ball as she drove the lane and her shot bounced off the backboard and the rim before falling through. She was 7-of-7 for the night with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals while playing all 40 minutes.

The Red Wolves had one last opportunity to get the win but Gamble’s layup missed the rim and junior Moses Johnson pulled down the rebound for the win.

Joyner was 6-of-13 from the field with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. Noblit scored a career-high nine points making 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in 16 minutes while Payne, with a four-point play, was 2-of-3 from the 3-point line for nine points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Mocs were 23-of-45 (51.1%) from the field and 40 percent (6-of-15) from long range. UTC outscored Arkansas State 32-18 in the paint and 16-13 off the bench. The Red Wolves forced the Mocs into 19 turnovers and outscored UTC 18-17 off miscues. Chattanooga outrebounded ASU 31-26 and had six second chance points off seven offensive rebounds.

The Mocs will host instate foe UT Martin after Thanksgiving on Saturday, November 28 at 6 p.m. The game was moved to a later time to not conflict with the Mocs NCAA football playoff game against Fordham at 1 p.m. at Finley Stadium.