In the most ambitious and entertaining UTC women's basketball schedule in the program’s history, five home games hightlight the 2016-17 schedule with national caliber opponents in November and December - Florida (Nov.14) Indiana (Nov.17) Wisconsin-Green Bay (Nov.25), Stetson (Dec.5) and Notre Dame (Dec. 27).
Overall, the Mocs will play 14 non-conference games, participate in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge and take on the four-time defending national champs UConn (Nov.29) on its home court.
Early Road Schedule: The Mocs open the season at Rutgers (Nov,11), play the aforementioned Florida and Indiana at McKenzie Arena – and back on the road to play three games in Louisville, Ky. before Thanksgiving in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge against Lafayette College (Nov.19), Bowling Green (Nov.20) and host Louisville Nov. 21).
The Mocs are home to face Wisconsin-Green Bay (Nov.25) before back on the road at Maine (Nov.27) and at national champion UConn (Nov.27).
In Dec. the Blue and Gold is at UT-Martin (Dec.3) at Florida Gulf Coast (Dec.20 and Presbyterian (Dec.30) sandwiched around the home games with Stetson (Dec.5) and Fighting Irish from South Bend (Dec.27).
A Look at the Non-Conference Opponents
Rutgers (away Nov.11) – 19-15 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT … first meeting between the two schools since UTC beat the Scarlet Knights in the first round of the 2004 NCAA tournament at McKenzie Arena
Florida (home Nov. 14) – UTC home opener … 29-12 … Gators lost in the first round of the NCAA tourney and tied for 4th in the SEC
Indiana (home Nov.17) … 21-12 and fourth in the Big 10 … beat UTC in Bloomington in the pre-season WNIT … was 1-1 in the NCAA tournament
Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tournament in Louisville, Ky.
Lafayette College (away Nov.19) … 6-23 and a member of the Patriot League
Bowling Green (away Nov.20) … Mid-American Conference and was 10-18 a year ago
Louisville (away Nov.21) … finished 8th in the final poll a year ago …
Wisconsin-Green Bay (home, Nov.25) … 28-5 and lost to Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA
Maine (away Nov. 27) … 26-9 and 12-0 at home last year and 26-2 at home the last two seasons
UConn (away Nov.29) …. Four-time defending NCAA champions
UT-Martin (away Dec.3) … 22-10 and won the regular season OVC … advanced to the second round of the WNIT ... UTC is 10-1 against UT-Martin
Stetson (home Dec.5) – 20-12 and fourth in the Atlantic Sun
Fla Gulf Coast (away Dec.20) … 33-6 in the Atlantic Sun, lost in the conference championship game and finished second in the WNIT
Notre Dame (home Dec. 27) …. Finished No.2 in final poll . lost to Stanford in regional semisfinals of the NCAA .. coach Muffett McGraw is a former Jim Foster assistant at St. Joe’s.
Presbyterian (away, Dec 30) … 18-13 in the Big South
Southern Conference Schedule
Chattanooga will open the Southern Conference portion of its schedule on the road at Samford and conference co-champion Mercer. The two road games against the Bulldogs and Bears last year were the Mocs first two SoCon losses since January 2012.
UTC returns to McKenzie for a three-game home stand against ETSU, Western Carolina and UNCG before closing out the month on the road at Wofford and Furman.
February will have four home games beginning with Mercer and then Samford. A three-game road trip to ETSU, UNCG and Western Carolina will close out the away portion of the schedule. Chattanooga ends the season at the Roundhouse against Furman and Wofford.
There will be four double-headers on the schedule including the season finale on February 25. The Mocs will host Wofford and honor its seniors following the game.
The Southern Conference Tournament returns to Asheville, N.C., and will take place March 2-5 at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown.
11 Returning Letter Winners: Chattanooga returns 11 letter winners from last year’s roster including starters Jasmine Joyner, Keiana Gilbert, Aryanna Gilbert and Queen Alford. Chelsey Shumpert, who sustained a season-ending injury after three games, will make her return and Shelbie Davenport who sat out after transferring from Clemson is eager to hit the court.
Season Tickets: Season tickets are on sale now online at GoMocs.com and the McKenzie Arena box office at 423.266.6627 (MOCS). Padded Reserved seats are $125 and General Admission seating is $100.
Seating for the women’s games against Florida and Notre Dame will be reserved. Padded seats are $20. Lower Level non-padded seats are $15 and Upper Level seats are $10.
Get closer to the action with floor seats for $1,000! That price includes FREE concessions in-game, the best parking available and access to hospitality for any women’s games when hosted. For more information on the floor seats, call 423-425-4233.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net