The Basics

Score: Chattanooga 72, Western Carolina 58

Records:  Western Carolina 4-17, 0-6 SoCon, Chattanooga 10-11, 5-1 SoCon

Location: McKenzie Arena, Chattanooga, Tenn.           

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Western Carolina women's basketball hung tough against Chattanooga before falling to the Mocs 72-58 on the road Thursday in McKenzie Arena.

After struggling in the second period, Western Carolina went on to tie the Mocs 12-12 in scoring in the third period and was just edged by Chattanooga 19-18 in the fourth.

Turning Point

With Western Carolina leading 17-16 after the first period, Chattanooga rolled off a 25-11 run in the second period to take control of the game and never trail again.

Individual Leaders

• Junior Judith Martin Ruiz scored a career-high 19 points, which also led all scorers, hitting a career-best four three-pointers in the game.
• Freshman Gabby Smith had 13 points along with ripping down five rebounds and hitting the second three-pointer of her career. 
• Freshman Jewel Smalls ripped down a career-tying seven rebounds.
• Chattanooga's Brooke Burns led the Mocs with 14 points.

Inside the Box Score

• Western Carolina did cut the Chattanooga lead to eight, 56-48 with 7:22 left in the fourth period, but the Mocs went on a 16-10 run to close out the period.
• The Catamounts connected on a seven three-pointers in the game marking the 14^th time this season WCU has hit six or more treys in a game.
• Chattanooga just won the rebound war with 41 to Western Carolina's 38.
• The Catamounts committed 17 turnovers in the game with the Mocs turning those miscues into 15 points.
• Western Carolina shot 35.5 percent from the field while the Mocs shot 43.1 percent.
• Chattanooga was given 23 trips to the free throw line hitting 16. The Catamounts were awarded 10 trips the charity stripe connecting on seven.

News & Notes

• Freshman Gabby Smith got back in the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 18, 2018 at Kentucky.
• Smith's 13 points in the game is the first time in 10 contests, since Nov. 25 against North Alabama, she has scored in double figures in a game.
• Martin Ruiz has scored in double figures in three straight games.
• Smalls scored seven points in the game halting her two-game streak of scoring in double figures. She has, however, scored in double figures in five of the last seven games.

Upcoming

Western Carolina completes its three-game road swing taking a quick trip to Johnson City, Tenn. on Saturday to face ETSU at 2 p.m.  

For the latest information on Catamount women's basketball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.