UTC Women Cruise to Easy Win Over Western Carolina to Open SoCon Tourney

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Southern Conference co-champion and second-seeded Chattanooga used stifling defense to surge past No. 7 seed Western Carolina 74-56 in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale on Thursday afternoon.

Queen Alford (20), Alicia Payne (15) and Keiana Gilbert (15) combined for 50 of the Mocs’ 74. Western was paced by Kyia Hough’s 14.

The Mocs ended any questions coming out of halftime on a 21-4 run. That extended a 14-point lead to 31, 58-27, with 3:02 left in the third quarter. The Cats were limited to just 2-for-6 shooting while committing seven turnovers during the seven-minute span.

UTC shot 45.5 percent for the game, including 50 percent (21-42) over the first three periods. It forced 20 Western turnovers, converting them into a 25-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

Sherae Bonner’s jumper at 5:58 got WCU within seven, 23-16, at 5:58 of the second quarter. Alford’s triple two possessions later sent the margin in double digits for good, 26-16.

Chattanooga’s 18 free throws made ties for its second-most of the season. It was Alford’s fifth 20-point performance of the season.

The Mocs head into the semifinals, where they’ll face No. 3 seed Samford on Friday. The game airs on ESPN3 at 1:15 p.m.