MOCS START STRONG IN LOSS TO #5/4 LOUISVILLE AT THE ROUNDHOUSE
 
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga women's basketball team got off to a strong start and went toe-to-toe against one of the top teams in the NCAA Friday night in a 75-49 loss to fifth-ranked Louisville at the McKenzie Arena.
 
However, a 30-10 third quarter effort by Louisville proved to be the difference in the game. Chattanooga moves to 1-1 on the year while the Cardinals improved to 2-0 in back-to-back road games.
 
"Great start to the game," Chattanooga head coach Katie Burrows said. "We did everything we were supposed to do defensively. They say defense wins championships, but if you can't put the ball in the hole, then you're in trouble."
 
At the end of the first quarter, the Mocs and Cardinals were tied 11-11. UTC shot 23.5 percent in the period making 4-of-17 while Louisville was not much more efficient making 5-of-14 (35.7%). In the second, Louisville edged a bit away from the Mocs and carried a 28-21 lead into the half.
 
The third quarter would be the difference in the game for Chattanooga. Louisville started the frame with eight unanswered points to make it 36-21 less than three minutes in. Chattanooga got four of the next six points from juniors Lakelyn Bouldin and Arianne Whitaker, but a 10-0 run increased the Cardinal lead to 23 at 48-25.
 
Louisville closed the period outscoring UTC 10-6 in the final 2:24 to lead 58-31 after three quarters.
 
"That third quarter really hurt us," Burrows said. "Give up 30 in one quarter. You can't do that, especially with a team like that. They're going to come out and be ready to go and you can't relax. We relaxed so it burned us."
 
The Mocs bounced back in the fourth edging the Cardinals 18-17. The Mocs started out with an 8-2 run, cutting into Louisville's lead to make it 60-39 and added 10 more points before the end.
 
Bouldin was the only Chattanooga player in double figures with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and a 3-pointer and two steals. Senior Shelbie Davenport added eight  points and had a team-high six rebounds while freshman Eboni Williams chipped in seven points with five rebounds and two assists.
 
The Mocs were 17-of-52 for the game and 3-of-16 from beyond the arc.
 
Louisville was led by Asia Durr who had a game-high 24 points and dished out three assists. She was held to just two points in the first quarter but rebounded with 22 in the middle frames. She didn't score in the final period, but only saw three minutes of action on the floor. Bionca Dunham added 12 points making 5-of-6 from the field. Jazmine Jones had a game-high seven rebounds.
 
Louisville shot 28-of-51 (54.9%) for the game. The Cardinals were 10-of-13 (76.9%) in the third quarter. Louisville outrebounded the Mocs 35-29 and scored 38 points in the paint compared to 24 for Chattanooga. UTC forced 20 miscues and converted that to 10 points while the Cardinals scored 19 on 18 Chattanooga turnovers.
 
The Mocs will hit the road next week for the first of four games out of town in a five-game stretch. UTC will take on Hampton Nov. 16 in Hampton, Va. Follow all the action online at GoMocs.com.