UTC (3-14, 2-1 SoCon) vs. FURMAN (12-5, 3-0)
2 p.m. Saturday at McKenzie Arena
Video & radio: ESPN3 & 97.7 FM/1070 AM
Storyline: The Mocs broke out of a season-long shooting slump in a robust way Thursday night with 80 points and nearly 60% shooting in a four-point win over Wofford. Bria Dial led four University of Tennessee at Chattanooga players who scored in double figures, with the junior guard going 7-of-7 from the field (5-of-5 from 3-point range) and 4-for-4 on free throws. The Mocs may need another hot performance against the Paladins, who have averaged 68 points per game this season while shooting 45%. They share the scoring load, with five players averaging more than seven points per game, but Le'Jzae Davidson leads at 14.5. She's also Furman's only real deep threat, having made 51 3-pointers, but Tierra Hodges and Celena Taborn form one of the top inside duos in the Southern Conference. Turnover numbers could be the key: Both teams have been loose with the ball at times, with Furman turning it over 19 times a game compared to 18 for the Mocs.
What's at stake? It's early in the SoCon schedule, but this could be a major stepping-stone for the Mocs if they actually have turned the corner. The league - one in which winning on the road is always tough - appears wide open, meaning home games carry extra weight. If UTC wants to keep the momentum gained from Thursday's win, this matchup is huge.
Up next: UTC begins a three-game road swing with a 7 p.m. EST tipoff Thursday at Samford.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.