Anderson, Chattanooga back to NCAAs

Alex Anderson had 25 points and Laura Hall 22 to lead Chattanooga back to the NCAAs with its third straight Southern Conference tournament title, 71-59, over Western Carolina on Monday.

The Lady Mocs (29-3) continued a near decade of league dominance, winning their seventh tournament title in the past eight years. They've won their past 24 games — the country's longest streak — and have taken their last 31 contests against conference opponents.

Chattanooga enhanced its reputation as the league's best closer, improving to 12-0 all time in Southern Conference tournament finals.

Now, the Lady Mocs will look to match their mid-major splash of 2004 when they stunned Rutgers to open the NCAA tournament before falling to Vanderbilt.

Chattanooga is 1-9 in NCAA games, losing in the first round to Baylor a season ago.

Western Carolina (25-8) lost its second straight final to the Lady Mocs.