In defeating Furman 68-56 Friday evening, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team may have had a revelation: If you don't turn the ball over, the game gets easier.
The Mocs turned it over a season-low 12 times in their Southern Conference win at Timmons Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, where they were buoyed by a strong defensive performance in the second quarter as they took control of the game.
Prior to Friday, UTC (7-4, 2-0) had averaged 21.2 turnovers a game and hadn't had fewer than 17 in any contest this season. By taking care of the ball Friday night, the Mocs were able to get through their offense and take - and make - quality shots, building a 20-point lead in the third quarter and never being threatened after limiting Furman to 27% shooting in the second period.
"Our goal is to have 13 and under (turnovers), and we hit that for the first time this year," UTC assistant coach Debbie Black said on the postgame radio show. "It gave us extra shots; I think we played a well-rounded game."
Eleven players clocked minutes for head coach Katie Burrows' team, and the contributions were widespread.
Bria Dial had 19 points and four steals. Eboni Williams had 11 points and chipped in seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. Abbey Cornelius added 11 points and four assists in 32 minutes, and Dena Jarrells had eight points and four assists.
The Mocs will stay in Greenville and face Furman (4-7, 0-2) - which was led by Tierra Hodges' 23 points and 13 rebounds - at 2 p.m. Sunday as part of the SoCon's consolidated schedule for women's basketball this season.
Mocs star
Williams affects the game in so many ways. It's something the Times Free Press has written about a lot, but in the first half - when UTC assumed command - the Mocs were 18 points better in her 18 minutes. By then she already had seven points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Key stat
See the aforementioned 12 turnovers. The turnover number is something that has been - and will constantly be - a concern, but if the Mocs can consistently keep the number of lost possessions south of 15, they'll give themselves more opportunities to be dangerous offensively this season.
Turning point
The Mocs took over with a 16-0 run in the second quarter as they held Furman scoreless for 6:12. It was the little things, too: the Mocs scored 10 points in the paint in the period and had eight points off five turnovers by the Paladins.
Final thought
The Mocs have the ability to have a dynamic offense, with so many weapons and that group led by Williams and Dial. But too many times this team has shot itself in the foot with sloppy ball-handling. If that is starting to get fixed, though, UTC has a chance to be really good.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.