CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Interstat) — A dominant fourth-quarter surge propelled the Chattanooga Lady Mocs to a 61-42 victory over the Wofford Terriers in a Southern Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at McKenzie Arena.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,210, was a defensive struggle for three quarters before Chattanooga pulled away decisively. The Lady Mocs outscored Wofford 22-8 in the final period, capitalizing on a stark disparity in offensive rebounds and points off turnovers to secure the win and improve to 9-5 overall. Wofford fell to 6-9.

For much of the night, Chattanooga’s offense labored, but the defensive effort never wavered. The Lady Mocs held Wofford to 34% shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers, which they converted into 14 points. The most telling statistic was on the glass, where Chattanooga corralled 20 offensive rebounds, compared to just three for the Terriers, leading to a series of critical second-chance opportunities.

Kalifa Ford was the catalyst for Chattanooga, scoring a game-high 20 points. The guard from Bono, Arkansas, was efficient from the floor and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, including six makes in the fourth quarter as the Lady Mocs sealed the game. She added six steals, repeatedly disrupting Wofford’s offensive flow.

Chattanooga also received significant contributions from its backcourt. Caia Elisaldez of Whittier, California, orchestrated the offense with six assists and added 10 points, while Ava Card of Montgomery, Alabama, chipped in 10 points and provided sturdy defense.

Wofford was led by Gabby Mundy, a guard from Liberty Hill, Texas, who finished with 13 points and three assists. Toni Warren of Canton, Georgia, added nine points for the Terriers, who struggled to find any consistent rhythm against Chattanooga’s pressure.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived early in the fourth quarter with Chattanooga holding a 39-34 lead. Over a five-minute span, the Lady Mocs engineered a 15-4 run that broke the game open. The surge was fueled by defense and offensive rebounding. Ford ignited the run with a steal and a pull-up jumper, then drew fouls on consecutive possessions, sinking four straight free throws. Card capped the decisive stretch with a three-pointer off an Elisaldez assist, extending the lead to 54-38 with just over five minutes remaining. Wofford never threatened again.

The first half was a low-scoring affair defined by missed shots and turnovers. Wofford took an early 11-7 lead behind Mundy’s play, but a scoring drought of over five minutes allowed Chattanooga to claw back. The Lady Mocs closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 14-11 and maintained a 24-18 advantage at halftime despite shooting just 28% from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

Wofford showed brief life in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 30-29 on a Toni Warren three-pointer. The Terriers managed to stay within five points entering the final period, but their offense completely stalled when Chattanooga tightened the defensive screws in the fourth. Wofford’s eight points in the quarter matched its lowest output of any period.

The victory was a return to form for Chattanooga following Interstat’s ELO system projection that favored the Lady Mocs with a 79.6% probability to win. Wofford, which entered the game having won three of its last four, could not overcome its offensive inefficiency, posting an offensive rating of just 63.7 points per 100 possessions.

Both teams continue Southern Conference play on Saturday. Chattanooga will host Furman, while Wofford travels to face East Tennessee State. The teams are scheduled for a rematch in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Feb. 7.