Chattanooga Mocs Postgame Notes
2023 NCAA Seattle Regional – 1st Round
Cassell Coliseum – at Virginia Tech – March 17, 2023
 
GENERAL
- The 16th-seeded Chattanooga Mocs lost a 58-33 decision to top seed Virginia Tech Friday evening in Blacksburg…Mocs are now 20-13, the Hokies move to 28-4.
- 21st 20-win season in school history…first since 21-11 in 2016-17.
- 16th NCAA Tournament appearance…1-16 all-time in the event…Mocs own the Southern Conference's lone NCAA postseason win topping Rutgers 74-69 in 2004…Appalachian State and Mercer are tied for second with four each.
- Chattanooga's 16 appearances are the most in league history with the program earning the league's first bid in 1989.
- First time as a 16 seed…the Mocs have been seeded 7 (2015), 10 (2004), 11 (2013, 2014), 12 (1989, 1992, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016), 13 (2002, 2010, 2017).
 
SERIES
- 0-6 all-time vs. the Hokies.
- 0-4 in Blacksburg.
- 1st postseason matchup.
 
COACH SHAWN POPPIE
- 20-13 in his first season as a head coach…3-1 in postseason play with 3-0 SoCon and 0-1 NCAA.
- Third Chattanooga coach to record 20 wins in first season joining Sharon Fanning (1976-77, 20-13) & Jim Foster (2013-14, 29-4).
- Fourth coach to lead Chattanooga to the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament joining Craig Parrott, Wes Moore & Jim Foster.
- Spent six seasons as an assistant to Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech before coming to the Scenic City last spring.
 
TEAM NOTES
- Season low scoring total…prior low was 39 at Tennessee…9th time Virginia Tech allowed less than 50 points this season.
- Tied for third-fewest points scored by Virginia Tech this season...lowest was 52 scored against No. 5 Notre Dame (63-52 loss) in Blacksburg and 55 at No. 16 Duke (66-55 loss)...matched total Hokies scored in a 58-37 triumph over the Blue Devils in the ACC Championships semifinals.
- -16 (22-38) rebounding margin…despite that, still held 6-4 advantage in second chance points.
- 14 FG made ties season low at Tennessee in December...28.6 percent (14-49) from field is lowest since 21.1 percent last season in home loss to Furman going 12 of 57 (21.1%).
- Chattanooga was 1-5 at the free throw line…fewest made free throws since also making one in loss at Furman last season in just four attempts.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Senior Abbey Cornelius is playing in her first NCAA Tournament continuing an impressive run of Mocs high school signees…since the start of the 1997-98 season, only one Moc has signed as a freshman and completed eligibility without playing in the NCAA Tournament.
- Cornelius finishes her career with 1,187 points (22nd all-time), 909 rebounds (6th) & 166 blocks (3rd).
- Yazz Wazeerud-Din scored 10 points tonight…30th game this season in double figures.
- Wazeerud-Din's 519 points are the most by a Moc since Whitney Hood tallied 584 in 2011…she is the 17th to score 500 in a campaign for the program and first since Ashlen Dewart's 504 in 2013.
- Raven Thompson matched Wazeerud-Din for team-high honors with 10 points…ended her freshman season seven points shy of 500 for her initial campaign.
- Three steals for Sigrun Olafsdottir...11th time with multiple steals in a game this season and one off her high of four at UNCG last month.