When University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball player Jasmine Joyner is having fun, that generally means opposing teams are having very little.
Joyner was having a blast Monday night, and the No. 21 Mocs rolled to a 68-41 Southern Conference win over Wofford in front of 1,720 at McKenzie Arena.
The sophmore post player dominated the stat sheet for UTC (21-3, 9-0) with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. She also had four assists, four blocked shots and two steals with only one turnover.
Farmer praises Dean Smith
Wofford women’s basketball coach Edgar Farmer Jr. was wearing a Carolina blue sweater and tie Monday night in the Terriers’ loss at UTC in honor of legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith, who died Saturday. Farmer, who played junior varsity basketball at UNC and later helped coach the JV team, credited Smith for his career and said his passing highlighted the bonds of everyone associated with the Tar Heels community. “I wouldn’t have gone to UNC if it wasn’t for Coach Smith, and I wouldn’t be in college coaching if it wasn’t for Coach Smith,” he said. “When people say that you are part of the Carolina Family, it’s the truth. It’s not just a quote or something you see on paper.” Remembrances and praise have poured out from all over the world since Smith’s death was announced, and Farmer — never a blue-chip player — added a interesting perspective on what one of basketball’s greatest coaches meant to him. “I really feel like it’s amazing all the great things that people have said about Coach Smith,” he said. “But the one thing that I can say personally about Coach Smith is while I felt like I was insignificant (at UNC), Coach Smith never made me feel that way. And that made me feel very special and a part of that huge family. “I’ll never forget that, and I’ll always cherish those memories.”– Jim Tanner