UTC (5-16, 4-3 SoCon) vs. UNC GREENSBORO (16-6, 5-2)
7 p.m. Thursday at McKenzie Arena
Video & radio: ESPN+ & 97.7 FM/1070 AM
Storyline: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is coming off a gutty triple-overtime win last Saturday at East Tennessee State, the kind of victory that can have long-lasting benefits. Four Mocs played at least 50 minutes, so having four days between games to recuperate should help UTC. This matchup will start UTC's back half of the Southern Conference schedule, and it offers a chance at redemption. The Spartans won 49-41 on Jan. 11 in Greensboro, North Carolina in one of the worst offensive performances by both teams this season: UTC was 16-of-51 from the field, with UNCG 18-of-51. The Spartans are coming off an even worse performance, having shot 26% in a 56-42 loss to Samford last Saturday. They have three capable scorers in Aja Boyd, Te'Ja Twitty and Nadine Soliman. In particular, Soliman seems to want to take over in tight games, as she did by making six of six free throws against UTC in the earlier meeting. The Mocs' defense has been solid all season; their outcome usually boils down to making enough shots and taking care of the ball.
What's at stake? A UTC win would at worst tie the Mocs with UNCG for third place in the SoCon standings and could move them into second. With a very winnable game next against Western Carolina, UTC could begin a run at the top if things go well against the Spartans.
Up next: The Mocs host Western Carolina at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.