UTC WOMEN’S HOOPS

MOCS REPORT

The Mocs outscored Samford 13-3 in overtime, finishing the game on a 10-0 run, to defeat the Bulldogs 68-58 Thursday night at McKenzie Arena. Freshman Brooke Burns hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:40 remaining, then the Mocs used their big three of the Gilbert sisters and Bouldin to put the game away. Aryanna finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Bouldin added 17 points and Keiana nine. Burns finished with seven.

BEARS REPORT

Mercer is coming off a 20-point win at then Southern Conference co-leader East Tennessee State on Thursday. The Bears returned all five starters from 2016-17 and have 10 seniors and juniors on this season’s roster, led by two-time league player of the year Lawrence, a senior, and Calloway, a junior. Means has seven games with at least 10 assists this season, and in six league games she has 60 assists to only nine turnovers. She has an assist-to-turnover ratio of better than 4-to-1.

KEY MATCHUP

The Bears have always been tough on the defensive end of the court, but it’s their offense — keyed by the addition of Calloway as a full-time starter — that has been the difference this season. In years past the Mocs have been able to go 5-1 against Mercer because they’ve slowed Lawrence’s production. Now UTC coach Jim Foster and his staff are challenged with stopping both Lawrence and Calloway.