The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women return home to host UCF Monday, November 13 in the cozy confines of Maclellan Gymnasium in a trip back in time. We go "Back to the Mac".
Former head coach Grace Keith will serve as the honorary head coach for the Mocs game Monday night. In 1974, she answered a knock on her classroom door by former Director of Athletics Harold Wilkes to become the head coach of the Mocettes in their first varsity season. She started the Mocs and Lady Vols rivalry when she and Pat Summitt were new coaches in collegiate basketball. In 1976, UTC and Tennessee battled to the final second before the Mocs fell by just one point to Tennessee right here in Maclellan Gym. In her two seasons at the helm, UTC posted a winning record in "Big Mac".
Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m.
Senior Aryanna Gilbert led the Mocs with 10 points, a game-high nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Sophomore Lakelyn Bouldin was 2-of-5 from the 3-point line with eight points and four rebounds. Senior Keiana Gilbert grabbed six boards and had a team-high three assists.
The Phoenix got out to a 16-7 lead with 3:39 to play in the first half. The Mocs scored the next five to cut it to 16-12 just over a minute later, but Green Bay would respond with a 16-2 run over the next 7:50 to stretch its lead to 32-14 midway through the second quarter. The two teams played even the rest of the period and the Mocs headed into the locker room trailing 39-21 at the half. Green Bay continued its push into the second half building its lead, holding the Mocs to just nine points.
Chattanooga had 24 turnovers resulting in 25 points for Green Bay while scoring seven off 16 Phoenix miscues. UTC's five freshmen all saw action in the game and transfer Arianne Whitaker made her first start in a Mocs' uniform. Brooke Burns was 2-of-4 from the field with four points and Bria Dial had two rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.
The Knights hosted Mercer in the season opener for both teams, beating the Bears 88-79. Four UCF players scored in double figures led by Dayon Griffin and Ceasar DeJesus with 16 points each. A.J. Davis had a team-best 15 rebounds in the win, adding eight points, three assists and three blocked shots.
UCF shot 53.6 percent from the field and made five 3-pointers. However, its biggest stat was a 23-of-37 effort from the free throw line. Also scoring in double digits Friday was Chance McSpadden with 13 and B.J. Taylor with 12.
Tickets are on sale now for this once this season opportunity to revisit the Mocs in Maclellan as we go "Back to the Mac"!