CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Chattanooga women’s basketball team traded the lead with Florida for most of Sunday afternoon at McKenzie Arena but could not close out the upset, losing 64-58 to the Gators from the SEC.
It was the first visit by a power conference opponent to the Roundhouse since 2023. The game had 15 lead changes before Florida pulled away late.
Izzy McPherson paced the Mocs with a season-high 15 points and made two of the team’s five 3-pointers. Gabbie Grooms, a transfer from Georgia State, went 5-of-12 from the floor for a season-best 11. TaTianna Stovall, a Bradley Central product, also scored 11, her third straight double-figure game to open her Chattanooga career, and buried the first 3-pointer of her college career during the final period.
Freshman Lydia Ledford chipped in nine points and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds off the bench, and Ava Card pulled down a game-high 10 boards, also a career best.
Chattanooga’s defense held Florida to 32.8 percent shooting, 22 of 67, and just three made 3-pointers. The difference came at the foul line, where the Gators made 19 free throws to nine for the Mocs. Florida also edged the Mocs on the boards, 46-42.
Florida guard Kiyomi McMiller, who came in leading the country with 31.8 points a game, managed 16 while making only four of her 15 shots. The top scorer on the floor was Gators forward Vivian Iwuchukwu, who finished with 19 points.
The loss leaves the Mocs with a 3-4 record in the all-time series with Florida, and they have yet to beat the Gators at home in two tries. The Mocs go on the road to face Northern Kentucky at 11 a.m. Thursday.
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