CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.— On November 4, 2024, Shorter (0-0) opened their last pre-season game with a tough loss to Chattanooga (0-0) at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, TN. Despite a strong start, Shorter could not keep pace with Chattanooga's defense and scoring depth, ultimately falling 66-49.
Game Overview:
The game began positively for Shorter, as they took an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, their offense struggled in the second period, managing only 3 points as Chattanooga turned up the pressure. The defensive breakdowns and missed shots allowed the Lady Mocs to seize control of the game, going into halftime with a 27-21 lead. Despite a valiant effort in the second half, Shorter was unable to recover, as Chattanooga extended their lead with a strong fourth-quarter performance. In the end, despite a strong start and individual performances from McCall and Smiley, Shorter's inability to maintain consistent offense and their struggles on the boards contributed to the 66-49 defeat. The team will look to regroup and build on their performance as they head into their first regular-season contest at home, against Oakwood University on Monday, November 11th at 5:30 PM.
Key Performers:
- Derrica McCall was the standout for Shorter, leading all scorers with 17 points, including 4 three-pointers. McCall's sharpshooting provided a spark for Shorter, but her efforts were not enough to halt Chattanooga's offensive flow.
- Tori Smiley added 15 points and 3 steals, playing an important role both offensively and defensively.
- Amya Patterson chipped in with 9 points going 4-7 from the field and finished with 2 rebounds.
Team Stats:
- Shorter was outrebounded 40-23
- Shorter forced 15 UTC turnovers
- Shorter finished the game shooting 40.9% from the field
- UTC outscored Shorter in the paint (28-20)
Scoring By Quarter:
- 1st: Shorter 18, Chattanooga 13
- 2nd: Shorter 3, Chattanooga 14
- 3rd: Shorter 12, Chattanooga 17
- 4th: Shorter 16, Chattanooga 22
Words From The HAWKS:
"I am still proud of my girls. They struggled with adjustments in the 2nd quarter and the well-coached UTC team was more aggressive on both ends of the floor. After halftime, we came out and found that "FIGHT" in each other again. Facing these D1 teams for us is an early test. We've got some things to tune up and work on this week as we head into our first regular season contact against Oakwood on Monday" says head coach, LaSheena Brooks.
