It's been a difficult week for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team, which has had more to think about than wins and losses.
Assistant coach Amanda Eaton-Burge was scheduled to return Thursday to Chattanooga following the death of her sister, Lauren Alexandra Eaton, last Saturday. A private funeral service was held Wednesday in Morgantown, W.Va.
Eaton-Burge, in her second season on coach Wes Moore's staff, is expected to be on the bench Saturday at 5 p.m. when the Lady Mocs host Elon in a Southern Conference game at McKenzie Arena.
"She says she's doing all right, but I know she's hurting," Moore said. "Maybe the game will take her mind off everything for a little while."
The Lady Mocs (15-6, 10-2), who are in first place in the SoCon with a 10-game win streak, will be without freshman forward Erin Helton for the second straight game. Moore said Helton had surgery Tuesday to remove a cyst and will be unavailable for at least the next two games.
The absence of Helton, who is averaging 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds a game, leaves UTC with just three regular post players: Shanara Hollinquest, Megan Rollins and Michelle Davis.
"We have to make sure we keep running even though we're tired, (and) we have to be cautious of our fouls," Hollinquest said. "It changes a lot."
Despite everything that's happening around them, Moore said the Lady Mocs have done a good job of staying focused. They will need to keep that focus Saturday against Elon, which is the last team to beat UTC.
The Phoenix (8-13, 3-9) scored 24 points off UTC's 25 turnovers in their 74-66 win on Dec. 17.
Saturday's game is "Autograph Night," and players will be available afterward in the arena concourse to sign items for fans.