University of Tennesseee at Chattanooga women vs. Mercer at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Georgia
Time: 5 p.m.
Video/radio: ESPN+/98.1 FM
UTC (8-10, 3-0 Southern Conference)
Projected starters: G Lakelyn Bouldin (5-8, 2.9); G Brooke Burns (5-10, 7.7); F Bria Dial (6-0, 3.7); G Morgan Hill (5-10, 4.8); F Rochelle Lee (6-3, 4.6).
Key reserves: F Shelbie Davenport (6-0, 5.8); F Eboni Williams (6-0, 8.4).
MERCER (11-7, 3-0)
Projected starters: G Keke Calloway (5-9, 19.2); G Linnea Rosendale (6-1, 8.9); C Rachel Selph (6-3, 7.7); F Amanda Thompson (5-10, 13.6); G/F Shannon Titus (5-11, 9.3).
Key reserves: G Amoria Neal-Tyson (5-6, 2.7); F Ally Welch (5-11, 1.8).
MOCS REPORT
UTC has turned its season around since entering Southern Conference play. The Mocs have made 44 percent of their shots in league games after hitting less than 36 percent against nonconference opponents, and they have greatly increased their rebounding average, collecting 33 a game prior to league play but a whopping 46 since. Bouldin is the SoCon women’s basketball player of the week after a stretch that included her first college double-double (26 points, 12 rebounds versus Wofford), and Williams has continued her strong play off the bench and leads the team in rebounding (5.4 per game). The Mocs lead the SoCon in blocks per game (3.7), with Abbey Cornelius posting four in Saturday’s rout of Furman.
BEARS REPORT
Mercer has a strong outside threat in Calloway, who has hit 43 3-pointers this season, and an inside complement in Thompson, one of the SoCon’s leading rebounders with an average of nearly 10 a game. The Bears are also one of the league’s most experienced teams, with five of their top seven players seniors, and they have thrived on turnovers – they have averaged nine steals per game and forced nearly 20 turnovers per game. The bench, though, is not a strength, with no one averaging more than three points per game.
KEY MATCHUP
UTC’s height could cause problems for Mercer, especially if the Mocs can keep Calloway from getting off clean shots. UTC has not played on the road in nearly a month, so a quick start would go a long way toward the Mocs winning this early first-place showdown.