Friday, January 14
Davidson, N.C.
7:00 p.m.
Davidson College
vs
Chattanooga
Chloe Woodington
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Women's Basketball Returns to Action vs. Mocs and Bulldogs This Weekend
1/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson returns to the hardwood this weekend with the start of a three-game homestand when it hosts Chattanooga and Samford on Friday and Sunday at John M. Belk Arena.
The Opening Tip
The Wildcats (5-8, 1-4 SoCon) are looking to snap out of a recent funk when they play the Chattanooga Mocs (7-9, 4-3 SoCon) on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then close the weekend with a 2 p.m. contest against the Samford Bulldogs (12-4, 5-2 SoCon) on Sunday.
This is Davidson's second three-game homestand of the year after playing Princeton, UNCG and College of Charleston, Dec. 29-Jan. 3.
The All-Time Series/Last Meeting
The all-time series vs. Chattanooga has Davidson trailing, 27-8, and it's dropped 21 of the last 22 meetings. The 'Cats lone win during that span came at home, Feb. 14, 2009, in an 89-80 overtime thriller.
The Mocs took both contests last year, but the Wildcats nearly won at home, falling 64-62 in the closing seconds.
As for the series vs. Samford, it's only four games old with the Bulldogs holding a 3-1 lead. Last year's meeting at John M. Belk Arena saw the Wildcats score a 78-77 overtime win thanks to Ashley Lax's game-winning three-pointer with 2.4 second left.
Scouting the Wildcats
•Davidson fell for the fifth time in the last six contests when it dropped a 55-42 decision at Georgia Southern last Saturday, falling to 1-6 in true road games.
•The last two games has seen the 'Cats shoot just 31.7 (at Western Carolina) and 27.7 percent.
•Two Wildcats reached double figures in points at GSU with Sophia Aleksandravicius and Kristen Johnsen scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively.
•Aleksandravicius (16.5 ppg- 4th SoCon/8.1 rpg- 3rd SoCon) has hit for double figures in all but two games this year, and has eight games with eight or more boards.
•The sophomore has led the team in both scoring and rebounding four different times, while leading the team in scoring alone eight times and rebounding alone seven times.
•Aleksandravicius is averaging a team-best 18.4 ppg and 9.2 rpg in five home games.
•Aleksandravicius continues to rank in the nations top-10 in blocks per game at 4.3 (7th) and has recorded five games this year with five or more blocks.
•Freshman Laura Murray (10.6 ppg) is 4th in the SoCon in free throw percentage (.843) and is 16-of-18 in the last five games. She also has dished out 10 assist in the past three contests.
•The freshman has scored in double digits six times this year, five of them coming in the last seven games. She is averaging 12.6 ppg in five home contests.
•Davidson has three players (Aleksandravicius, Murray and Ashley Lax) averaging in double figures in five home games. The 'Cats are averaging 65.5 ppg in those five contests.
•Kristen Johnsen is shooting a team-best 56.3 percent, good for 2nd in the league.
•The Wildcats last home game saw them score a 69-40 win over College of Charleston, Jan. 3.
•Davidson continues to rank first in the SoCon in field goal defense at 36.4 percent and are second in three-point field goal defense at 28.8 percent.
•Both Aleksandravicius and Lax were named to the coaches' preseason All-SoCon team.
•The Wildcats were picked to finish 6th in the SoCon in both the media and coaches polls.
•Davidson returns eight letterwinners, two are starters, from last year's 14-15 team.
Scouting the Mocs
•Chattanooga had its four-game win streak snapped on Monday after suffering a 74-61 home defeat to Elon. It was the Mocs first conference home loss of the season.
•The Mocs were held to 38.7 percent shooting and just 28.6 percent behind the arc (8-28).
•Whitney Hood has been one of the top players this year in the SoCon. The redshirt junior had 21 points vs. Elon and is averaging a league-best 22.4 ppg.
•Hood, who scored 40 earlier this season and twice has been SoCon Player of the Week, also ranks in the league's top-five in rebounds (8.1-tied 2nd), offensive boards (46-2nd) and field goal percentage (.553-3rd).
•Kayla Christopher is second on the team with an 11.6 ppg average. She has a team-high 36 made three-pointers.
•Chattanooga as a team is shooting 35.2 percent from downtown, 4th in the conference.
•Though they are third in the league in scoring (68.2), the Mocs are allowing nearly 73 points and opponents are shooting 45.3 percent against them.
•Chattanooga has won the SoCon Tournament Title 13 times and gone to the NCAA Tournament 10 times.
•UTC, 24-9 overall and 16-4 in the SoCon last year, were picked to finish third in the preseason poll.
•The Mocs return just four of their 11 letterwinners and only one of their five starters from a season ago.
•Wes Moore is one of the nations top-five winningest coaches and needs just three more wins for 500 for his career. He is also only three wins away from 300 while at Chattanooga.
Scouting the Bulldogs
•Samford plays at Appalachian State on Friday night before coming to Davidson on Sunday.
•The Bulldogs moved into a tie for first place in the league on Tuesday after scoring a 66-46 win over UNCG.
•Emily London, the preseason SoCon Player of the Year, paced the team in the win over the Spartans with 26 points and eight boards. She has led the team in scoring eight times.
•London has a team-best 15.3 point per game average, good for sixth in the SoCon. The senior has been very efficient with her shot, nailing 52.3 percent of her field goals and is over 45 percent from downtown (38-84).
•Last year at Davidson, London scored a SoCon season-high 35 points, hitting six of her 11 field goals from three-land.
•Fellow senior Savannah Hill is also averaging in double figures at 11.9 points per game and paces the team with a 5.9 rebounding average.
•The senior had games of 12 and 15 points last year vs. the Wildcats.
•Samford leads the SoCon in scoring defense at 55.0 ppg.
•The Bulldogs also rank first or second in free throw percentage (.764-1st), field goal percentage (.458-2nd), three-point percentage (.401-1st), three-point percentage defense (.275-1st), rebounding defense (32.8-1st), assists (15.3-2nd) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1-1st).
•The Bulldogs have scored league wins already against Western Carolina, College of Charleston, Wofford, Furman and UNCG.
•Coming off a WNIT bid last year after going 23-11 and 14-6 in SoCon, the Bulldogs were picked to finish first in the preseason poll.
•Samford returns seven letterwinners from last season's squad, including three starter.
Up Next
Davidson wraps up its three-game stint at home wtih a 7 p.m. contest against Appalachian State on Wednesday.
Women's Basketball Preseason Virtual Tip-off (10-21-25)
Wednesday, October 29
The Inside Out Show - Episode 7
Friday, January 31
Women's Basketball vs UMass Highlights
Thursday, January 25
Riana Doctor '26 - 'Cats on Tour Testimonial
Sunday, April 02
