CHATTANOOGA --- Basketball season is officially upon us, and what better way to bring in another new season than by joining Chattanooga women's basketball at the Roundhouse on Monday for the team's season-opening matchup against Shorter University?
The Mocs open their year with a clash against the Division II Hawks, marking the very-first game of newly minted UTC head coach Deandra Schirmer's tenure at the helm of the women's basketball program. Set to tip at 6 p.m. ET, fans are encouraged to come out and celebrate the reigning Southern Conference regular season and tournament champions as the team's quest for three-straight SoCon Tournament titles starts now.
Fans not able to make it out to McKenzie Arena can also follow along either via ESPN+ or by tuning their radio to WFLI 96.1 FM/100.3 FM/1070 AM. Fans that are in attendance can look forward to honoring last season's championship-winning squad following the game, as well as the first 300 fans receiving replica championship rings of their own.
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Date: Monday, November 4, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Follow the game live online on ESPN+, WFLI, The Varsity App or the GoMocs App. Links are available online at GoMocs.com.
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA (0-0, 0-0 SoCon)
The Mocs are coming off one of the program's most successful seasons of all time, with the Mocs having finished 28-5 in 2023-24 while securing the Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles in the process. Now under the guidance of Deandra Schirmer, Chattanooga women's basketball is on a quest for tree-straight SoCon Tournament crowns as the team heads into the 2024-25 season. The Mocs have returned some key players, including Sigrun Olafsdottir, a regular starter the past four seasons and a 2024 SoCon All-Defensive Team honoree. UTC also brought back starting forward Karsen Murphy, as well as the dynamic rising sophomore, Caia Elisaldez, to name a few more. Coach Schirmer has also brought in some fresh faces into the Scenic City that include 2024 First Team WBCA Division II All-American Kalifa Ford, three-point threat Jade Moore and double-double magnet Brooke Anya.
ABOUT SHORTER (0-0, 0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Shorter will be hoping to take a step up from a 2023-24 season in which the Hawks finished 3-25 overall with a 2-22 record playing in Conference Carolinas. The Hawks put up a competitive result against Division I squad UAB last week, falling 72-64, and now Shorter will turn its attention to playing spoiler in UTC's first game of the year. Senior forward Tiara Lewis will be the main name to watch for the Hawks, with Lewis having led Shorter in scoring (12.2 points/game) and rebounding (6.8 rebounds/game) on the year. The Hawks were also able to return the team's second-leading scorer, Derrica McCall, from last year's roster as well. McCall also finished 2023-24 as the team-leader in assists (2.3 assists/game) and steals (1.5 steals/game).
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
In order to find the last time Chattanooga and Shorter met on the women's basketball hardwood, one would have to look all the way back at the 1991-92 season. The Mocs took on the Hawks back on February 1, 1992, nearly 32 years ago. UTC, who was playing on its home floor, hung a 28-point win on Shorter by claiming an 88-60 victory over the Hawks. The win marked Chattanooga's third consecutive win over Shorter in a series that is currently split 4-4 all-time dating back to their first meeting back in 1977. UTC went on to finish the 1991-92 season with an 18-12 record, capturing the Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles in the process.
TOP NOTES
- Monday's game marks the first-ever game of the Deandra Schirmer Era of Chattanooga women's basketball.
- Schirmer marks the eighth head coach in program history. She brings a 114-31 (.786) career record with her from Valdosta State.
- Filling out UTC's staff are associate head coach Tianni Kelly and assistant coaches Nicole Heyn, Mallory Odell and Alexis Uffmann. It marks the first time in program history that Mocs women's basketball has an entirely female coaching staff.
- Two of UTC's starters from a season ago have returned to the team for 2024-25: Sigrun Olafsdottir and Karsen Murphy.
- Olafsdottir, as well as newcomer and grad transfer Kalifa Ford, were recognized as Preseason Al-Southern Conference honorees. Ford was the only SoCon newcomer to receive preseason recognition.
- Ford joins the Mocs having been a First Team WBCA Division II All-American last year at Valdosta State.
- The Mocs were picked to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 23 points.
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