Walters State advances to TCCAA/Region VII tournament finals with win over Chattanooga State

MORRISTOWN, TN -- Some things never change.

On Saturday, the Walters State women's basketball team will be playing for yet another TCCAA/Region VII Championship.

Walters State battled and battled on Thursday against Chattanooga State in the tournament semifinals and, thanks to a Jaida Wiggins layup and two free throws from Blayre Shultz, prevailed over the Lady Tigers, 62-58.

"All we were worried about was winning and moving on," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "We dealt with some adversity in that second half with them coming back on us. Bravo to Chattanooga State. They are tough and had a great season. We are just very fortunate to be moving on."

With the Lady Tigers up one with 1:30 to go and the shot clock winding down, Wiggins drove to the basket and drilled a contested shot that proved to be the game winner.

After the bucket, Walters State got a key steal from Shultz and then prevented a game-tying bucket with seven seconds to go. While the defense struggled at times in the second half, it was never better than the final two possessions of the game.

"These are the things we work on starting back in September," Coleman said. "There were times this season that we didn't handle last second situations well. But we grew up and got better and this time we were ready."

The Lady Senators battled foul trouble in the post throughout the game but Kiera Hill and Quentarra Mitchell stepped up big time for Walters State. Hill had 16 points on 6-9 shooting while Mitchell recorded her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

"It was just next one up for us," Coleman said. "I always make sure we are all ready to play because you never know what happens. Both of them stepped up and gave us huge minutes tonight."

Along with them, Wiggins recorded 15 points and was calm, cool and collective down the stretch as she ran the point.

"Jaida is learning," Coleman said. "I am tough on her, but she is doing things right now that you have to do this time of the year to be able to get the job done."

Shultz added 10 points, she was a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line, and five steals as well while Vertonia Bady had six points.

It was a fast start for Walters State as Mitchell and Hill both scored to make it 4-0 early. The Lady Tigers would respond, however, and took a 17-12 lead late in the quarter. But whatever momentum they had quickly went away as Hill and Wiggins each made shots to make it a one-point game after one.

Neither team would budge to start the second quarter as the lead shifted four times before the Lady Senators broke out to a four-point lead on two Mitchell layups. The lead would grow to seven on two Shultz free throws, and Walters State led 32-26 at the half.

Walters State would continue to take control in quarter number three as Wiggins hit a big 3-pointer and Hill made a layup and free-throw which made it a 10-point game. The lead would grow to 13 when Hill hit a jumper. Walters State would not let their foot off the gas in the third and led by nine heading into the final 10 minutes.

However, with their season on the line, Chattanooga State would not go away. The Lady Tigers scored 13 of the first 16 points in the quarter and, with 5:26 to go, took their first lead since the second quarter, 52-51. The Lady Senators appeared to have weathered the storm when Wiggins hit a 3-pointer from the logo as the shot clock expired to give Walters State a five-point lead again. 

But once again Chattanooga State would not go away and took a one-point lead before Wiggins hit what proved to be the game-winning shot with a minute to go. Wiggins hit a free throw and Shultz hit two to ice the game. 

UP NEXT:

The journey is not over for the Lady Senators as they now travel to Vol State to take on Southwest Tennessee Community College in the championship game. Tip is set for 2 p.m. CT, 3 p.m. ET.

It will be a different task for Walters State as they go from playing teams they have seen over and over again this season, to playing a team they have not seen this season.

However, Coleman knows they are up for the task.

"We'll rest up and talk about things and just get ready to go on Saturday," Coleman said. "We're just going to take it one game at a time and move forward from there."

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics