The Chattanooga women’s basketball team will be playing in tournament-like conditions with a twist, this week. On Monday the Mocs will travel to Birmingham to take on UAB at Bartow Arena then north on I-65 for a Tuesday tilt at Vanderbilt in Memorial Gymnasium. These will be the Mocs final two road games before exams begin Wednesday, Dec. 1.
This will be the 27th meeting between the Mocs and Blazers. UTC leads the series that dates back to 1980 by a 20-16 margin. In Birmingham, however, the advantage is a narrow 9-8 lead held by the Mocs.
The Blazers won last season’s meeting 78-58 and beat the Mocs in the WNIT postseason tournament 60-50 in Birmingham in 2018.
Chattanooga fell 78-58 to the Blazers at The McKenzie Arena in the 2020-21 season opener. Bria Dial led the Mocs with 20 points and Abbey Cornelius chipped in seven points. The Mocs held the lead into the third quarter, holding UAB to just 5-of-27 field goals to lead 25-23 at the break. The Blazers outpaced the Mocs 55-33 in the second half.
This will be the 20th meeting between the Mocs and Commodores. Vanderbilt leads the series 12-7 and have won the last four meetings. Last year, the Mocs fell in a heartbreaker at the Roundhouse 80-78 after leading most of the game. In Nashville, the Mocs are 2-5 with both wins coming in the early 80s. The last UTC win over Vandy was in Maclellan Gym in 1988 when Vanderbilt was ranked 15th under former head coach Craig Parrott.
The Mocs fell 80-78 to Vanderbilt last year in the Roundhouse after leading the Commodores for three quarters. Vandy put together a 10-0 run to start the fourth, taking a 68-62 lead and the Mocs would get no closer than two points the rest of the way. Abbey Cornelius recorded a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Six Chattanooga players were in double digits led by Dena Jarrells’ 15 points. The Mocs were 10-of-24 from the 3-point line but 17 turnovers became 15 points for the Commodores.