As Cinderella has effectively danced across the men’s NCAA
basketball bracket in impressive style this weekend, Chattanooga hopes to join
the victory hugs and cheers of other triumphant under dogs come Saturday afternoon
against Syracuse in the women’s field of 64.
6 vs.
11 - The No.11 Lady Mocs (29-3), and winners of an
impressive 25 straight games, faces No.6 Syracuse (22-9) in Lexington, Ky. today at
1:30 p.m. EDT.
Syracuse is 0-4 in NCAA tournament play, while it’s been a
decade since current UTC assistant coach Katie Galloway Burrows led the Blue
and Gold (1-11 in NCAA play) to an upset of Rutgers in McKenzie Arena on
opening weekend of March Madness.
Journey to 30: A victory against The Orange would give this UTC
team a single season school record of 30 wins.
UTC coach Jim Foster as a good blend of seniors (five) and
underclassmen (starts two freshmen) and last week gave a brief synopsis of each
player.
The Lady Mocs
Chelsey Shumpert (Fr.
G 5-4) … 7.1 ppg … 2.2 rbpg … 1.8 assists
“terrific freshman year … continues to improve with
experience … strengths are her ability to make the 3 and to pressure the ball
on defense.”
Aryanna Gilbert (Fr. G/F 5-9) … 4.5 ppg … 2.0 rbpg
“physically gifted … has quickness and strength … very good
defender …
Alex Black (Sr. G 5-8)
… 6.8 ppg .. 2.0 rbpg … 1.0 assists
“has terrific pull up jumper … good from 3-point range
(38.7%) … has quickness”
Alicia “Red” Payne (So. G 5-9) … 2.9 ppg … 2.0 rbpg
“terrific defender … takes care of the ball … brings lots of
energy into the game (off the bench)”
Whitney Hartlage (Fr. G 5-8) … 2.3 ppg … 0.6 rbpg
“has improved a great deal this season … very good passer …
good stand still shooter”
Meghan Downes (Sr. G 5-9) … 5.3 ppg … 1.1 rbpg … 1.1 assists
“has had a solid year … field goal percentage has improved (42.5%)
… assist-turnover ratio is best in her career (34-18).”
Ka’vonne Towns (Jr. G/F 5-10) … 5.4 ppg … 2.3 rbpg
“a diverse player … good 3-pt. shooter(30.5%) … can defend playing a variety of positions …
a good decision maker with the ball.””
Tatianna Jackson (So. G
5-10) … 4.3 ppg … 3.3 rbpg
”terrific defender … can attack the basket and getting
better at it … very good offensive rebounder”
Moses Johnson (Fr. F 6-0) … 1.8 ppg … 1.6 rbpg
“athletic and learning how to use that athleticism… learning
how to play quick and fast … very good offensive rebounder … has good instincts
around the basket.
Taylor Hall (Sr. F/G 6-1) … 14.9 ppg … 8.6 rbpg … 4.3
assists
“fundamentally sound … has real sense in how to play the
game … terrific instincts … quick, strong and anticipates well … can play four
positions.”
Must Have an AirCraft Carrier:
The late hall of fame coach Al McGuire said to win big in
the NCAA tourney you have to have an aircraft carrier (big center) in the
middle … UTC has three.
Faith DuPree (Sr. C 6-3) … 6.4 ppg … 3.5 rbpg
“solid ... good fundamental … very good mid-range jumper …
runs the floor with sneaky effectiveness”
Ashlen Dewart (Sr. C 6-3) ... 10.1 ppg … 5.1 rbpg
“terrific touch … good rebounder … better than average
passer”
Jasmine “Jazz” Joyner (Fr. C 6-2) … 3.8 ppg … 3.3 rbpg … 2.2
blocks
“has great timing … terrific shot blocker … much better
touch around the basket and on the perimeter than most people understand … she has learned to play hard.”
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net