Last season the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team hosted top 10 powers Tennessee and Stanford and posted wins over both schools.
UTC coach Jim Foster thought he would up the ante a bit and bring in three-time defending NCAA champion U. of Connecticut (Mon. Nov. 30) plus Harvard and Butler, a first round WNIT game and seven Southern Conference games to McKenzie Arena as part of the 2015-16 schedule.
The away schedule includes trips to Stanford, Tennessee, South Florida and the Christmas Classic in Wilmington, N.C.
“We have a very difficult schedule again for the upcoming season and my philosophy is that you get better by playing better teams,” said Foster.
“If we can sellout McKenzie Arena for the UConn game we will get a lot of play around the country.”
Foster sees the UConn game as “good for the community and the university and gives our players a great opportunity to go against Breanna Stewart who has a chance to become the only player in NCAA history to be a four-time All-American and play on four national championship teams.”
Season Opener at Home: The Mocs open the season at home against McNeese State (Fri.
Nov.13) in a first round game in the WNIT followed by a regular season game with Butler Sun. Nov.15).
The WNIT: The Mocs are guaranteed three games … a win against McNeese State puts UTC against the Indiana-Tennessee State winner on Tues. Nov. 17 … that winner advances to the semis (Nov.19) with the championships game set for Sun. Nov. 22.
SoCon Schedule The Mocs open the SoCon schedule on the road at Wofford and Furman (Jan.7, 9) and plays their first conference home games in a pair of doubleheaders against Western Carolina and UNCG (Jan. 14, 16).
In-State Games: The Mocs are at Tennessee (Nov. 23), then host UT-Martin (Nov.28), Belmont (Dec.16) and SoCon foe East Tenn. State (Feb.27).
Season Tickets: Reserved seating is $125 with lower lever General Admission just $100. Season tickets are now on sale at the McKenzie Arena box office 423-266-6627 (MOCS) or online at GoMocs.com.
2015-16 UTC Women’s Basketball Schedule
Fri. Nov. 13 1 - McNeese State McKenzie Arena TBA
Sun. Nov. 15 Butler McKenzie Arena TBA
Tues. Nov. 17 1 - Indiana or Tennessee State TBD TBA
Thurs. Nov. 19 1 - WNIT - Third Round TBD TBA
Sun. Nov. 22 1 - WNIT - Final TBD TBA
Mon. Nov. 23 at Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn. TBA
Wed. Nov. 25 Arkansas State McKenzie Arena TBA
Sat. Nov. 28 UT Martin McKenzie Arena TBA
Mon. Nov. 30 UConn McKenzie Arena TBA
Sun. Dec. 13 at South Florida Tampa, Fla. TBA
Wed. Dec. 16 Belmont McKenzie Arena TBA
Wilmington Christmas Classic
Fri. Dec. 18 2 - East Carolina Wilmington, N.C. TBA
Sat. Dec. 19 2 - UNC Wilmington Wilmington, N.C. TBA
Mon. Dec. 28 at Stanford Stanford, Calif. TBA
Mon. Jan. 4 Harvard McKenzie Arena TBA
Thur. Jan. 7 • at Wofford Spartanburg, S.C. TBA
Sat. Jan. 9 • at Furman Greenville, S.C. TBA
Thurs. Jan. 14 • Western Carolina (DH) McKenzie Arena TBA
Sat. Jan. 16 • UNCG (DH) McKenzie Arena TBA
Thurs. Jan. 21 • at Mercer Macon, Ga. TBA
Sat. Jan. 23 • at Samford Birmingham, Ala. TBA
Sat. Jan. 30 • at ETSU Johnson City, Tenn. TBA
Thurs. Feb. 4 • Furman (DH) McKenzie Arena TBA
Sat. Feb. 6 • Wofford (DH) McKenzie Arena TBA
Thurs. Feb. 11 • at UNCG Greensboro, N.C. TBA
Sat. Feb. 13 • at Western Carolina Cullowhee, N.C. TBA
Wed. Feb. 17 • Samford McKenzie Arena TBA
Sat. Feb. 20 • Mercer (DH) McKenzie Arena TBA
Sat. Feb. 27 • ETSU (DH) McKenzie Arena TBA
Fri.-Mon. Mar. 4-7 ^ Southern Conference Tournament Asheville, N.C. TBA
Schedule is tentative and subject to change. All times Eastern. All home games played at the McKenzie Arena unless otherwise noted. • Southern Conference opponent. ^ Southern Conference Tournament. 1 - WNIT played at home sites. 2 - Christmas Classic, Wilmington, N.C.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net