The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team fought hard Sunday but could not bring an end to a long losing streak as the Mocs closed their brutal nonconference schedule with a 70-58 loss to Ohio at McKenzie Arena.
The Mocs (1-13), who have lost 11 straight games, played with a new and smaller lineup that showed flashes of potential – but they never held the lead, with any scoring run UTC made answered by the Bobcats (7-4).
Cierra Hooks led Ohio with 21 points, and Erica Johnson had 18 points with 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Bobcats, who forced 22 turnovers and manufactured 25 points from those takeaways.
UTC sophomore Eboni Williams set a career high with 14 rebounds, and junior Lakelyn Bouldin led the Mocs with 19 points and helped them win the rebound battle 40-38.
Ohio was outscored 32-25 over the second and third quarters and finished the game just 8-of-19 on free throws, but the Bobcats made 10 3-pointers.
SUNDAY’S STAR
Bouldin made all 10 of her free throws and finished one rebound shy of a double-double. The former Van Buren County High School standout moved up to 18th all-time in career points (1,266) at UTC, and she converted a traditional three-point play in the first quarter after fighting underneath the backboard for an offensive rebound and going back up for the basket.
STANDOUT STAT
Bria Dial and Para Pene had the hot hands in the Mocs’ 16-point second quarter as each scored seven points. Dial jump-started an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer, then made a layup soon after Bouldin blocked a shot, with Williams saving the ball from going out of bounds. Dial also hit a streaking Pene on a backdoor pass on the right baseline for the last basket of the first half.
TURNING POINT
The momentum was turning the Mocs’ way after they outscored Ohio 16-8 in the third quarter. Bouldin hit a floater with the shot clock winding down, and Nakeia Burks assisted Williams over the top for a tough finish at the hoop to cut the deficit to 44-39. Bouldin hit four straight free throws to cut the deficit to 47-44 at the end of the third. However, Ohio took full control in the fourth behind Johnson, whose 10th point of the quarter came on a 25-footer with 3:21 left to build a 67-49 lead.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Mocs’ first 14 games came against stellar opponents with a combined record of 103-56 (.648) entering Sunday. For perspective, Notre Dame has the toughest strength of schedule in the country, with its opponents this season holding a winning percentage of .656. UTC returns to competition Jan. 9 at Western Carolina, and coach Katie Burrows’ Mocs should be able to play that Southern Conference opener with no fear.
QUOTABLE
Burrows on Pene and Burks: “Pare scored a career high in points and took care of the ball well for us tonight. She moved her feet well defensively and has earned more trust. Burks has had to step into the point guard role and guide this team after not playing much in her career due to injury. She has gotten a lot better, and if she can keep finding ways to improve her scoring ability, she can be a major weapon for our lineup.”
Bouldin on the season so far: “Our schedule has made us tougher mentally. We have learned something from every game, and now we have a clean slate moving into SoCon play. We know we can turn it around and be a conference championship contender.”
Dial on what needs to spark UTC: “The all-out effort plays get us going on both ends of the court. We fought when we needed to tonight. Basketball is a game of runs, and we have to do a better job limiting those for other teams.”
NOTABLE
This was the first time these program have met. The Bobcats entered with four players averaging double figures in scoring.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.