Mocs hope to heal during week off
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team lost 59-49 to Princeton on Thursday in the final game of the Gator Holiday Classic in Gainesville, Fla.
The Mocs, 8-5 for the season but 8-2 since mid-November, with two wins over Southeastern Conference teams, will host Hampton next Thursday.
Still using only eight players due to various injuries, UTC was somewhat lethargic in the first half, making 28 percent of its shots and trailing by 11 points at halftime.
Princeton (9-3), the No. 12 mid-major program in the country, started the second half with a 13-3 run to build a 21-point lead before the Mocs — trying to shake off the effects of three games in five days with a limited bench — started to rally. The Tigers’ lead was down to 10 (46-36) after three quarters, and the Mocs closed to within seven points on an Arianne Whitaker free throw with 5:10 remaining, but they got no closer.
UTC coach Jim Foster admitted afterward that the team is needing some depth to return. The Mocs have lost Nakeia Burks to a knee injury for the season and have three guards and a forward out with injuries.
“In the first half we weren’t where we needed to be, but I thought in the second half they stopped feeling sorry for themselves,” Foster said on the postgame radio broadcast. “We got more aggressive, more assertive, and more good things started to happen.”
Aryanna Gilbert had 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting to lead the Mocs, but the rest of the team shot 25 percent from the field. Lakelyn Bouldin scored nine points and Brooke Burns chipped in eight, while Whitaker had 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocked shots to go along with five points.
Keiana Gilbert also scored five points.
“In the beginning half we had no energy,” Foster said. “We found it in the second half, which is a good sign, but no doubt we need some players back. We need some more depth and we’re going to get it.
“Players that are sick are going to get healthy and be back; players injured will be able to rally quickly. Some people should go home and rest, and some people should get some good workouts in.”
Bella Alarie had 16 points to lead four double-figure scorers for the Tigers. She also had 12 rebounds (eight offensive). Tia Weledji had 15 points and was 3-for-4 from 3-point range, while Leslie Robinson (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Carlie Littlefield (10 points) also reached double digits.
The Mocs were outrebounded 44-24, with Princeton grabbing 18 offensive rebounds.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress. com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.