University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women vs. Samford at McKenzie Arena
Time: 7 p.m.
Video/radio: ESPN+/98.1 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
UTC (11-14, 6-4 Southern Conference)
Projected starters: G Lakelyn Bouldin (5-8, 13.0) G Brooke Burns (5-10, 8.0); F Bria Dial (6-0, 4.8); G Molly Melton (5-4, 2.1); F Arianne Whitaker (6-2, 6.4).
Key reserves: F Rochelle Lee (6-3, 3.9); F Eboni Williams (6-0, 8.6).
SAMFORD (9-16, 4-6)
Projected starters: C Natalie Armstrong (6-2, 9.8); F Shauntai Battle (5-9, 7.2); G Ta’Naisha Hill (5-7, 8.7); G Paige Serup (5-6, 7.7); G Cassidy Williams (5-8, 5.6).
Key reserves: G Katie Allen (5-11, 5.3); F Samantha Fitzgerald (6-0, 5.5).
MOCS REPORT
UTC has dropped three consecutive games – all on the road, all in SoCon play – failing to top 60 points in any of them and shooting less than 34 percent combined in that stretch. So the Mocs should be happy to be home, where they are 5-0 in league games this season. UTC’s lone road win against a SoCon foe this year came Jan. 26 at Samford, with the Mocs outscoring the Bulldogs 24-7 in the fourth quarter, shooting a robust 29-of-52 for the game and totaling only six turnovers to win 73-63. Bouldin scored 19 points that day to lead four Mocs in double figures. UTC shot just two free throws in a 64-60 loss at Wofford this past Saturday.
BULLDOGS REPORT
Samford is coming off back-to-back home wins in SoCon play, including this past Saturday’s 57-53 victory over UNC Greensboro in which Hill exploded for 26 points. The Bulldogs are 1-4 on the road in league games this season, having averaged just more than 50 points in the losses. While they have improved their defensive play in recent weeks, the Bulldogs still have trouble on the glass with a minus-6 rebounding margin per game.
KEY MATCHUP
UTC needs to win this game to keep hope alive of earning the No. 2 seed for the upcoming SoCon tournament. Being back home could wake up the Mocs’ shooting, but if the cold streak continues, look for them to work inside more often with Whitaker and freshmen Williams and Abby Cornelius, who had a breakout game last month at Samford as she scored 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting.