CHATTANOOGA --- Chattanooga women's basketball brought in the 2023-24 season the best way they knew how on Monday, as the Mocs dominated Division II opponent King University 88-32 to notch the team's first win of the season at McKenzie Arena.

The Mocs (1-0, 0-0 SoCon) shot the lights out of the Roundhouse, shooting a red-hot 60.7 percent from the floor on a 34-for-56 clip to help power UTC past the Tornado to kick off the team's SoCon Tournament title defense.

"Today learned that we can be as good as we want to be," head coach Shawn Poppie said. "You always think as a coach, you're looking at your deficit, you know what your deficiencies are? How are we going to be exposed and that hopefully keeps you one step ahead. But because you think about that all the time you forget that you actually are and have a chance to be a pretty good basketball team."

The Mocs showed next to no early season rust in the game's opening quarter, as UTC outscoring King 30-3 in the opening 10 minutes of action showing that this year, the Mocs meant business.

Riding the wave of their blazing first quarter, the Mocs turned to many new faces to continue to light up McKenzie's crowd full of children that were in attendance for Education Day. Freshman Hannah Kohn put the team's offense on her shoulders from three-point range as the Oviedo, Florida, native connected on all four of her three-point attempts in the first half. Continuing to limit offensive mistakes while forcing them out of the Tornado, Chattanooga was looking at a 54-13 lead when both teams made their way to the halftime locker rooms.

While many backups were able to see some action for the Mocs in the second half, starting guard Jada Guinn was still able to reach a major milestone before her day came to an end.

After stealing and scoring on the fastbreak for the Mocs, the Oak Ridge, Tennessee native had officially scored her 1000th point of her career, having came into her UTC debut needing exactly 16 points today to reach the milestone.

"I wasn't thinking about it at all," Guinn said. "Coach Poppie let me know in the third quarter that I was two points away, I had forgot about it. It was great to do it today and celebrate with all my teammates."

The Mocs continued to cruise their way to an eventual 88-32 victory over King, marking back-to-back seasons in which UTC has been able to win their home and season-openers under head coach Shawn Poppie. The win also marked just the seventh time in program history that the Mocs were able to pull off a 50+ point victory, with the last time coming in 2008.

Kohn, who finished her collegiate debut with 17 total points, ended the day as UTC's leading scorer as both Raven Thompson and Jada Guinn trailed narrowly behind her with 16 apiece. Thompson also was able to hit a scoring milestone in the victory, becoming the third-fastest player in program history to score 500 points after accomplishing the feat in her 34th game with the team.

Transfer Kailyn Farrell finished with a team-high nine rebounds, while a total of four Mocs all finished tied for the team lead in assists with three. Addie Grace Porter, Jada Guinn and Sigrun Olafsdottir each recorded three steals, tying the trio for the team-high in the category.

FROM THE HEAD COACH | QUOTES
On difference between last year and this year.
"I think a year ago we were just in a different space. We didn't have as many bodies we were relying on just a couple kids. We're relying heavily, don't get me wrong, on Raven Thompson and Jada Guinn. They're gonna be big time for us. But at least we got more threats and we're playing a little bit different style and it's a little different brand. Hopefully the defensive side is not any different. I thought we did a much better job rebounding in the second half. We gave up seven o-boards in the first half. We can't do that. We're already undersized. So we better be scrappy."

On the play of the "bigs"
"Hopefully sooner than later. We're going to need them. It's the deepest position we have as far as bodies and they bring something different. And I think for me as a coach, I want it to be sooner than later but the reality is there's not a bunch of experience."

On the play of Hannah Kohn
"Every time it leaves her hand we all think is going in. She's got a gift. We knew that recruiting her. We got to work on some things for how to hunt that right? Because what's gonna happen is you play a couple of these games and everyone's watching and now all of a sudden the space is a little different. But sometimes that can be utilized for us too. We can you know continue to work on her on the defensive side of the ball."

TOP TAKEAWAYS | NOTES
- UTC is now 27-23 all-time in season-openers … 2-0 in season-openers under Shawn Poppie.
- The Mocs are also 31-18 all-time in home-openers … 2-0 in home-openers under Shawn Poppie.
- With a 56-point victory today, this marks the seventh time in program history that the Mocs have posted a win margin of 50+ points. Last time UTC won by 50 or more points came in a December 6, 2008 victory over Alabama A&M (87-29).
- 88 points for the Mocs marks the most in a game for the team since they scored 96 against Georgia Southern on December 20, 2020.
- Freshman Hannah Kohn dropped a team-high 17 points in her collegiate debut for the Mocs.
- Grad transfer Jada Guinn scored her 1000th career point in the win, having entered the game needing 16 to reach the milestone. Guinn scored exactly 16.
- Raven Thompson became the third fastest player in program history to reach 500 career points, reaching the mark in just 34 games with the Mocs. She finished with 16 points as well.
- Transfer Kailyn Farrell brought in a team-high nine boards in her debut for the Mocs.

UP NEXT: AUSTIN PEAY
After the season-opening victory, the Mocs will now hit the road for the first time this season as UTC heads to Clarksville, Tennessee, this Friday, November 10 to take on Austin Peay. The game is currently scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on ESPN+.

50 SEASONS OF CHATTANOOGA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The 2023 season for the Chattanooga women's basketball team marks a major landmark for the program and the university, as UTC women's basketball officially celebrates its 50th season of competition as a university sponsored athletic program. Following the adoption of the Title IX legislation back in 1972, UTC added women's basketball, tennis and volleyball programs to its roster of athletic teams, bringing on five decades of history and success for each of the teams. Chattanooga WBB will be putting on multiple promotions and content pieces throughout the 2023-24 season to celebrate the program's history, culminating in the team hosting its 50th Season Celebration and Reunion during the Mocs' February 3 matchup against Furman at McKenzie Arena.

FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Follow @GoMocsWBK on Twitter & @gomocswbk on Instagram for the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga women's basketball.

GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.