Gilbert-led Mocs getting comfortable in their roles
As Keiana Gilbert has settled into her new position on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team, so have the other Mocs into their individual roles.
The result — although the sample size is small — has been improved play for the team.
The 5-foot-10 Gilbert has embraced the role of point guard for the Mocs, with freshman Bria Dial returning to the starting lineup at Gilbert’s old guard-forward position. UTC put together one of its best performances of the season in the its most recent game, dispatching on the road a UNC Greensboro team that had beat Southern Conference second-place East Tennessee State University just two days earlier.
The Mocs (15-8, 6-3) host ETSU’s Bucs (14-10, 7-2) in a big SoCon matchup Saturday at 2 p.m. It’s the first game of a doubleheader, with the UTC men hosting Mercer at 5.
With injuries and sickness limiting the Mocs for much of the season, the rotations haven’t been consistent. Now with everybody healthy who’s going to be healthy, the product has been much better.
Arianne Whitaker is now having a solid impact at the 5 position for the Mocs, which has taken some of the load off Gilbert, her sister Aryanna and sophomore guard Lakelyn Bouldin.
“We’re comfortable where we are right now,” coach Jim Foster said before Thursday’s practice. “We’re figuring some stuff out; freshmen are figuring out where they fit, what they need to do to contribute. We just need to play games, keep getting a little better.” Keiana Gilbert averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game last week and was chosen SoCon player of the week. This is her second stint at point guard this season, as she stepped in for the injured Molly Melton for a six-game stretch and at times struggled. This time around she seems more comfortable at the position, and the Mocs are starting to find their stride with three weeks left in the regular season.
“It took some getting used to, but now if it helps the team get better, I’m more comfortable taking on that role,” Gilbert said. “I think we’ve figured out what each player’s role is, and we’re getting more production out of each player as we settle into those roles.”