The UTC women’s basketball team shook off a slow start to cruise to an 86-53 exhibition win over Lee University Thursday in the McKenzie Arena.
Both teams struggled in the early part of the contest, combining to go 0-9 with eight turnovers in the first four minutes of the game. Chattanooga finally got on the board with a steal and lay-in by senior Megan Rollins.
The Lady Mocs pushed the lead to 7-0 before Lee finally broke the ice on the other side of the scoreboard. UTC freshman Michelle Davis saved a ball under the Lady Flames’ basket that went right to junior Brooke McKinnon. She scored one of the few easy baskets for Lee on the evening.
Chattanooga went on a 14-0 run midway through the first period and pushed to a 32-18 halftime lead. The Lady Mocs overcame a rough shooting first half – 1-11 from 3-point range and 38.5% from the floor – by forcing Lee into 12 first half turnovers.
The Lady Mocs came out in the second half with a much better shooting touch, connecting on 55.9% of their attempts.
Davis was very impressive in her debut, finishing with a game-high 19 points and seven boards off the bench. She went 7-10 from the field and 5-6 from the foul line. 2009 Southern Conference Player of the Year Shanara Hollinquest was one board shy of a double-double with 13 points on 5-9 shooting and 3-5 from the free throw line.
Rollins added nine points, four boards and a team-high four steals. Freshman Erin Helton was also in double figures, hitting all five of her shots from the field to post 10 points. Fellow freshman Kayla Christopher had a solid outing with four points, nine boards, four assists and a pair of steals.
The Lady Mocs open the regular season when they travel to East Tennessee State next Friday for a 7 p.m. (E.S.T.) tip-off. UTC’s first home game is against SEC foe Georgia on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the McKenzie Arena.
Women’s basketball season tickets are on sale now at the UTC Ticket Office by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online on GoMocs.com. Lady Mocs season tickets start at $45 and mini season plans are also available.
VISITORS: Lee University 0-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 SPANN, Angela....... * 2-6 1-2 0-0 1 0 1 3 5 2 2 0 1 24
20 ADDISON, Kayce...... * 0-4 0-3 0-0 1 3 4 4 0 0 1 1 0 20
24 RADER, Allison...... * 4-8 0-4 0-2 0 1 1 3 8 3 5 0 4 31
30 McKINNON, Brooke.... * 1-11 0-3 4-4 2 2 4 3 6 1 8 0 1 29
44 NELSON, Katie....... * 3-7 0-1 5-5 1 7 8 2 11 1 2 1 0 28
11 HARRIS, Kari Jo..... 4-7 3-4 2-2 1 1 2 1 13 0 0 0 0 16
12 ELDRIDGE, Kally..... 1-5 0-2 3-4 0 1 1 3 5 2 2 0 0 14
23 ZIMMERMAN, Julia.... 0-6 0-5 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 12
33 HAMBY, Brooke....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 10
34 DAVIS, Katie........ 2-3 1-2 0-0 0 2 2 4 5 0 0 0 0 15
52 MITCHELL, Whitney... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
TEAM................ 2 3 5
Totals.............. 17-57 5-26 14-17 9 23 32 25 53 9 22 2 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 6-27 22.2% 2nd Half: 11-30 36.7% Game: 29.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-12 16.7% 2nd Half: 3-14 21.4% Game: 19.2% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 4-4 100 % 2nd Half: 10-13 76.9% Game: 82.4% 0
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HOME TEAM: Chattanooga 0-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
03 CHRISTOPHER, Kayla.. * 1-3 0-1 2-2 1 8 9 3 4 4 2 0 2 33
05 TOWNSEND, Tenisha... * 1-7 1-5 5-7 1 3 4 2 8 4 4 0 2 32
15 WADE-FRAY, Jenaya... * 3-6 1-3 2-3 2 3 5 4 9 3 1 0 1 23
42 ROLLINS, Megan...... * 3-10 0-1 3-3 2 2 4 0 9 0 1 0 4 17
50 HOLLINQUEST, Shanara * 5-9 0-1 3-5 4 5 9 1 13 1 3 0 2 21
01 PENLAND, Kori....... 2-5 1-3 2-2 0 0 0 0 7 3 2 1 3 23
32 SMITH, Kiara........ 2-5 1-4 0-0 1 0 1 0 5 1 0 0 0 10
33 HELTON, Erin........ 5-5 0-0 2-2 0 4 4 4 12 2 2 1 0 13
34 DAVIS, Michelle..... 7-10 0-2 5-6 0 7 7 3 19 1 0 0 0 30
TEAM................ 1 2 3
Totals.............. 29-60 4-20 24-30 12 34 46 17 86 19 15 2 14 202
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-26 38.5% 2nd Half: 19-34 55.9% Game: 48.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-11 9.1% 2nd Half: 3-9 33.3% Game: 20.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 11-14 78.6% 2nd Half: 13-16 81.3% Game: 80.0% 2
Officials: Al Tutson, Melissa Lewis, Stacey Rymer
Technical fouls: Lee University-None. Chattanooga-None.
Attendance: 1490
Lady Mocs
- Photo2 by Wes Schultz