Mocs women second half not enough to overcome Samford

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UTC Athletics) — The Chattanooga Mocs battled back in the second half to cut the Samford lead to six points, but it wouldn’t be enough as UTC fell 77-67 Saturday afternoon at The McKenzie Arena in Southern Conference women’s basketball action.

“The first half was not Chattanooga basketball,” head coach Katie Burrows said after the game. “I was really disappointed in our effort. We came out flat offensively.

“We weren’t moving the ball initially, but I felt like we turned the corner a little bit in the first half with our offense, but defensively we were not flying around, we were not communicating, we were not doing the things we were doing Thursday [against Mercer].”

Samford led by 10 at the end of the opening quarter and stretched the lead to its largest of the game, 31-14, on an 8-1 run less than three minutes into the second.

The Mocs, however, responded with its own run with eight straight points, cutting the Bulldogs advantage to 31-22 at the 4:20 mark of the second. Samford pushed back and led by 12 at the break.

In the third, the Mocs put together a 16-5 scoring sequence, cutting Samford’s lead to 52-46 with 2:21 remaining in the quarter. UTC would get as close as six again, 72-66, in the fourth on Dena Jarrells’ third 3-pointer of the game, but it would get no closer.

Chattanooga, led by Brooke Hampel, shot 44.6 percent (25-56) from the field and 7-of-20 from deep while making just 10-of-16 from the free throw line.

Brooke Hampel went 3-of-5 from deep with a career-high 18 points. Joining her in double figures was Sigrun Olafsdottir and Jarrells.

Olafsdottir had a season-high 15 points with five rebounds and three assists. Jarrells drained three from deep and added 14 points for her fourth double-digit game in the last five.

“Sigrun found her offense,” Burrows said. “She’s doing a lot for us. We ask a lot of her.

“I felt like Brooke played well. She contributed offensively for us and led us in the offensive rebound category. I’m thankful that she’s getting us some extra opportunities.”

Samford was 29-of-57 (50.9%) on the day led by Andrea Cournoyer with a game-high 28 points. She was 6-of-8 from the 3-point line and grabbed five rebounds and four steals. Sussy Ngulefac had 13, Natalie Armstrong scored 11 and Audra Leipold chipped in 10. Annie Ramil pulled down a game-best 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs.

“We let Cournoyer get hot,” Burrows said of the SoCon-leading scorer. “We can’t give up 28 points to her and thing we’re going to win.”

The Mocs remain at home for just one contest next week, hosting ETSU Saturday, February 12 at the Roundhouse. The game is set to tip off at 2:00 p.m. and tickets are on sale online at GoMocs.com or The McKenzie Arena box office.