The University of Virginia's College at Wise Athletics

CHATTANOOGA, TN -- UVA Wise opened the 2026-27 season with the 85-44 exhibition loss to Chattanooga Monday at McKenzie Arena. Shelby Higgins led the Highland Cavaliers with 14 points.

This is the first of two exhibition games this season for UVA Wise, who will play their second one six days from now at ETSU. The games do count for their opponents as today is the Division I opening day, so the Mocs move to 1-0 on the season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: Chattanooga 85, UVA Wise 44
Records: UVA Wise (0-0 (Game does not count)); Chattanooga (1-0)
Location: Chattanooga | McKenzie Arena

HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Mocs scored first on Izzy McPherson's 3-pointer at 9:50, Jalie Ruehling's offensive-rebound layup got the Cavaliers within 3-2 before UTC moved ahead 9-5 on baskets from Ava Card and Gabbie Grooms and two Sarah Owona free throws around an Alissa Cheek 3-pointer. Ella Karst and Abigail Jordan combined for four UVA Wise free throws to cut the deficit to 10-9, and Shelby Higgins followed Jordan's defensive rebound with a fastbreak 3-pointer off an assist from Kyndra West that put the Cavs in front 12-10 at 1:48. Evie Bruce answered with a 3-pointer for the Mocs at 1:23, but Jordan made another free throw at :48 to tie the quarter at 13-13, and neither team scored again before the horn.
 
The Mocs opened the second quarter by holding the Cavaliers at 13 while Sarah Owona, Gabbie Grooms, TaTianna Stovall and Ava Card helped the home team move in front 24-13. Evie Bruce added a layup before Kyndra West got the Cavs on the board in the quarter with a jumper at 4:52, and Gabrielle Crawley later scored off a Grace Vyborny assist to make it 28-17. Owona answered with a 3-pointer, and London Weaver's two free throws pushed UTC to a 33-17 lead before Alissa Cheek and Shelby Higgins accounted for the Cavaliers' final four points of the half. The Mocs closed with baskets from Izzy McPherson and Lydia Ledford, plus a Ledford free throw, to take a 38-21 lead into halftime.
 
UVA Wise started the third quarter by forcing four Chattanooga turnovers in the first 1:08, with Ella Karst and Grace Vyborny recording steals and Vyborny making a free throw at 9:09 to make it 38-22. UTC answered with baskets from Sarah Owona, Izzy McPherson and TaTianna Stovall to push the score to 44-22 before Gabrielle Crawley blocked a shot, grabbed the rebound and Shelby Higgins hit a 3-pointer at 4:17. Stovall added two free throws and a layup for the Mocs around a Crawley putback, and London Weaver's 3-pointer at 1:50 made it 53-27. Vyborny and Alissa Cheek scored late for the Cavaliers, but Lydia Ledford added the final basket as the Mocs finished the quarter ahead 55-31.
 
Ella Karst supplied the Cavaliers' first two baskets of the fourth quarter, scoring at 9:20 and again off a JaMiah Lewis assist at 8:44 to make the score 55-35. Sarah Owona answered with a 3-pointer, and after Lewis made a free throw, Chattanooga scored the next 13 points, using steals, layups, Gabbie Grooms' free throws and Lydia Ledford's 3-pointer to move ahead 71-36. Abigail Jordan scored on a Lewis-assisted layup at 4:11, and Shelby Higgins hit a 3-pointer off an assist from Lewis at 2:56, but UTC continued to score inside through Aaliyah Story, Evie Bruce and London Weaver. Higgins added another 3-pointer at :38 before Story's layup at :24 closed the scoring in the Mocs' 85-44 win.

GETTING WISE
- Shelby Higgins had 14 points as she hit four three-pointers and was a perfect 2/2 in made free throws.
- Grace Vyborny had a team-high seven rebounds to go along with three steals and two assists/
- Alissa Cheek had seven points and three rebounds.
- Kyndra West had three steals and two points.
- The Highland Cavaliers were limited to 14 field goals on 61 attempts and committed 20 turnovers, while the Mocs scored 22 points off turnovers.

UP NEXT
UVA Wise will travel to Johnson City, Tennessee, to face East Tennessee State in their final exhibition game this season on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at 4 p.m. They will then open the regular season on Nov. 13 when they host the Southeast Regional Challenge.
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