Lady Mocs try array of points

Before the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team pursues an 11th consecutive Southern Conference regular-season championship, the Lady Mocs have some point guard questions that must be answered.

Coach Wes Moore expects to use senior Tagan Hatchett, sophomore Tenisha Townsend and freshman Kylie Lambert at the point this season, and he said he needs at least one of them to step it up this week, preferably before UTC (1-1) hosts No. 15 Georgia (1-0) on Thursday at McKenzie Arena.

"We're still a work in progress and we're still searching," Moore said. "I'm not going to lie: Point guard is a position that we have to take a close look at, and we're going to try to get our best players on the court. And right now we're still in the experimental stage and exploring and trying to figure out exactly where people are going to fit in and what their roles are.

"We're just now scratching the surface of that."

Hatchett, second in the SoCon last season in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7), is still working her way back from a preseason knee sprain, so Townsend has started the first two games.

Through two games -- an 85-61 season-opening loss at East Tennessee State and a 76-66 win at Austin Peay -- Townsend has three assists and seven turnovers. Hatchett has no assists and five turnovers and Lambert, in more limited action, has three assists and three turnovers.

"We do have a lot of guards compared to last year when it was more of a set group," Hatchett said, "and I think it's going to be really competitive and whoever is getting the job done is going to play."

Freshman shooting guard Kayla Christopher leads the Lady Mocs in assists with eight (to just three turnovers). After looking a little lost in the opener -- many of her teammates did as well -- Christopher had 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds and just one turnover in 37 minutes against Austin Peay on Sunday.

Moore said Christopher won't enter the point guard mix because he wants to keep her at the No. 2 spot.

"Kayla's doing such a great job at the 2 guard, and it'd be crazy to take away from that position," he said. "And I love having a 2 guard out there that can help you handle it, that can help bring it up the court, that can make great feeds. That's definitely a plus."

Moore said junior wing Bailey Dewart (knee) could be out up to eight more weeks. Dewart hasn't played since tearing the ACL in her right knee last January.