For the 17th time in program history, the Chattanooga women’s basketball team heard its name called during the NCAA Selection Show as the Mocs ultimately earned the No. 14 seed of the Portland Region, pitting UTC against No. 3 seed N.C. State.
After finishing the season 28-4 (13-1 SoCon) and claiming the Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles, the Mocs will now turn their attention to the Wolfpack, who ended their season 27-6 (13-5 ACC) under former UTC head coach Wes Moore.
“For me, a 14 seed is a pretty good thing,” head coach Shawn Poppie said.
“At this level if you get to 13 that’s a really good job and 12 is pretty rare. I’m excited because I’m familiar. I played against Wes (Moore) for a number of years when I was at Virginia Tech, and I’m sure a few things have changed but that’s mostly just personnel. I’ve been in the arena; I know how to prepare. It gets loud but there’s a comfort level there for me that I think can spread to the rest of our group.
This marks back-to-back seasons that the Mocs have punched their ticket into the NCAA Tournament after receiving the SoCon’s automatic bid enroute to being named as a No. 16 seed a season ago. This season’s No. 14 seed for the Mocs stands as the highest seed for UTC since they were a 13 seed back in 2017. The highest seed in program history came in 2015, when the Mocs were the No. 7 seed of their region.
“A lot of people have nerves when it’s their first time playing in the tournament,” Jada Guinn said. “I kind of know a little bit of what to expect already, so I’ll just be telling some of our younger players what to do. Today at practice we were getting ready for that kind of environment with loud noise. We just want them ready for that type of energy and that big of a moment.”
The Mocs and the Wolfpack are slated to play on Saturday, March 23. Start time and television coverage has yet to be announced. A radio broadcast will also be available for fans via WFLI 96.1 FM/100.3 FM/1070 AM. More information on tickets, live stats, etc. can be found on the Chattanooga women’s basketball schedule page on GoMocs.com as they become available.
CHATTANOOGA WBB ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SEEDING AND RESULTS
No. 14 seed in 2024 -- @ No. 3 N.C. State
No. 16 seed in 2023 – Lost to No. 1 Virginia Tech (58-33)
No. 13 seed in 2017 – Lost to No. 4 Louisville (82-62)
No. 12 seed in 2016 – Lost to No. 5 Mississippi State (60-50)
No. 7 seed in 2015 – Lost to No. 10 Pittsburgh (51-40)
No. 11 seed in 2014 – Lost to No. 6 Syracuse (59-53)
No. 11 seed in 2013 – Lost to No. 6 Nebraska (72-59)
No. 13 seed in 2010 – Lost to No. 4 Oklahoma State (70-63)
No. 12 seed in 2008 – Lost to No. 5 Kansas State (69-59)
No. 12 seed in 2007 – Lost to No. 5 Baylor (68-55)
No. 12 seed in 2006 – Lost to No. 5 Kentucky (69-59)
No. 10 seed in 2004 – Defeated No. 7 Rutgers (74-69), Lost to No. 2 Vanderbilt (60-44)
No. 12 seed in 2003 – Lost to No. 5 South Carolina (68-54)
No. 13 seed in 2002 – Lost to No. 4 Penn State (82-67)
No. 12 seed in 2001 – Lost to No. 5 Clemson (51-49)
No. 12 seed in 1992 – Lost to No. 5 Clemson (76-72)
No. 12 seed in 1989 -- Lost to No. 5 Georgia (90-69)