In NASCAR there is a saying that to go fast one must first learn how to slow down. The same strategy seems to be working for Eboni Williams.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 6-foot freshman forward used the approach to help the Mocs get off to a strong start in Southern Conference play Saturday at McKenzie Arena. She scored a season-high 17 points and pulled down a team-high and season-best 11 rebounds - in just 19 minutes of action - in a 76-67 win over East Tennessee State University.
It was her third double-double of the season and second in succession. It was also her most impressive, UTC coach Katie Burrows said.
"Yet another double-double for Eboni," Burrows said with a smile. "We've got some kids who are starting to figure it out, and she's one of them. She was a different kid today. She played slower and she has made the decision that she has to slow down.
"When she starts to learn body control, and you can tell she's figuring herself out, she's going to be a force to be reckoned with - especially three years from now. "
The Mocs (6-10, 1-0), who did not trail in the final three quarters, were led by Lakelyn Bouldin's 19 points and impeccable floor game. Handling most of the point guard duties, which became more important when Molly Melton was injured early in the game, Bouldin outplayed ETSU star Erica Haynes-Overton.
Haynes-Overton entered the game second in the country in steals per game but managed only two Saturday while committing seven turnovers. Bouldin had only a pair of turnovers while getting two steals. She also went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, including 6-for-6 in the final 30 seconds as the Buccaneers (2-15, 0-1) tried to rally.
"We knew in the second half we needed to cut our turnovers down," Bouldin said. "They were getting really aggressive trying to force us into committing stupid turnovers, so we had to slow down and not let them get going. At the end, we just needed to slow down and play quick, not fast, and play smarter than they did."
UTC held a 52-49 lead late in the third quarter after being tied at halftime before Williams started making her active presence felt on both sides of the court.
She hit a 3-pointer to give the Mocs a 55-49 lead with two minutes left in the third, then started the final period with seven consecutive points as the advantage grew to 11 with 7:22 left in the game. The first bucket, a pull-up jumper from the lane, was, her coach said, a perfect example of Williams' improvement.
"The simple pull-up jump shot was great, exactly what we want," Burrows said. "And her effort on the boards, boy, what a difference."
It wasn't all positive. Moments after her big run, Williams tied up Micah Sheetz for a jump ball, but after the two got a bit chippy while on the court the Moc was called for a technical foul. The Bucs scored the game's next six points to cut the lead to three before Williams, reinserted after being taken out to cool down, made a steal that led to Rochelle Lee's jump shot.
ETSU twice more got within three, but each time Bouldin and Brooke Burns hit free throws to keep the Mocs ahead.
The win was the start of a three-game UTC homestand, which continues at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Wofford.
"What a great way to start SoCon play," Burrows said. "I could not be more excited for our players. We knew this was going to be a battle. It always is. I thought our effort and energy was better than ETSU's for the game. Everybody contributed."
Burns added 11 points, five rebounds and a team-best four assists for UTC, while Sheetz led ETSU with 19 points.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.