Defense has been the calling card of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team throughout Jim Foster's four seasons as head coach.
Only now, the offense is on par.
Through three games in Southern Conference play - against Mercer, Samford and East Tennessee State, the three teams ranked just behind UTC in the preseason - the Mocs have shot 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range while averaging 70.3 points per game. With only 54 points a game allowed on 33 percent shooting, the results have been three double-digit victories.
"We're starting to have a better sense of who we are and how we need to play," Foster said after Saturday's win over ETSU. "We just need to be disciplined; we were a little out of kilter in the fourth quarter and took some jump shots off the dribble, which are the lowest-percentage shots you can take in the half court. We don't want to take them early."
Jasmine Joyner has averaged 17.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and six blocks per game in conference play, while Lakelyn Bouldin is shooting 54 percent from 3-point range and averaging 13 points per contest. As a team, the Mocs are moving the ball well, averaging 13.7 assists per game, and their shooting percentage would be even higher against ETSU had it not been for a fourth quarter in which they shot 4-for-15, which reduced their game rate to 42 percent (from 49 percent entering the period).
Most of their offense comes in transition and attacking the lane, a job made easier by Joyner's presence. She had nine blocked shots against the Bucs, which tied her school record, and added 10 rebounds. Her blocks have helped the team get out in transition, which has created opportunities for players such as Bouldin and fellow guards Chelsey Shumpert, Queen Alford and Keiana Gilbert.
Now that she's learning how to stay out of foul trouble, that's given the team more opportunities for easy scores.
"I've had to learn to be more mature on the court," Joyner said. "Coach Foster tells me that you can't feel like you can block everything, so I just stayed smart and tried to stay out of reach, and the ball just came to my hands."
The Mocs (9-8, 3-0) host Western Carolina on Thursday at 6:30.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.