University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women vs. Samford at Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama
Time: 3 p.m. EST
Video/radio: ESPN3.com/96.1 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
UTC (8-11, 3-1 Southern Conference)
Projected starters: G Lakelyn Bouldin (5-8, 12.4); G Brooke Burns (5-10, 7.5); F Bria Dial (6-0, 3.9); G Morgan Hill (5-10, 4.5); F Rochelle Lee (6-3, 4.5).
Key reserves: F Shelbie Davenport (6-0, 5.8); F Eboni Williams (6-0, 8.3).
SAMFORD (7-12, 2-2)
Projected starters: C Natalie Armstrong (6-2, 10.4); F Shauntai Battle (5-9, 7.7); G Charity Brown (5-8, 6.4); G Ta’Naisha Hill (5-7, 8.3); G Paige Serup (5-6, 8.3).
Key reserves: F Samantha Fitzgerald (6-0, 5.7); G Cassidy Williams (5-8, 4.4).
MOCS REPORT
Coach Katie Burrows’ team is coming off a loss at Mercer in which the Mocs shot just 35 percent from the field and hit just 11 of 20 free throws Thursday. Bouldin and Williams, the Mocs’ leading scorers for the season, had just four and five points, respectively, with Williams taking only four shots. There were bright spots: Freshman Mya Long totaled 14 points and four steals, Arianne Whitaker blocked six shots and the Mocs had a season-low six turnovers.
BULLDOGS REPORT
Samford has averaged 60.4 points per game on 41.5 percent field-goal shooting and is coming off an impressive 79-58 win over East Tennessee State in which Hill tied her collegiate high with 21 points and Armstrong added 15 on 7-of-10 shooting. The Bulldogs shot 56 percent and had just six turnovers after entering averaging more than 15 a game. Like the Mocs, they played a challenging nonconference slate and lost by at least 20 points to Southern Mississippi, Oklahoma State, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn, Colorado and Vanderbilt.
KEY MATCHUP
The Mocs seem to win when they rebound well. Thursday was perhaps their worst performance of the season in that regard as they lost the battle to Mercer 50-31. Samford is not a great rebounding team, with Armstrong the leader at 5.8 per game, so Lee, Whitaker and Williams could have big games inside.