UTC Women’s Basketball Team Remains Top Draw in the SoCon

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The UTC women’s basketball team may not always lead the SoCon in wins.
But you can bet they’ll always lead the SoCon in home attendance.
The Mocs have enjoyed great crowds at McKenzie Arena for years.

Chattanooga’s home attendance is not lost on head coach Deandra Schirmer.
It’s why she’s here.
Said Schirmer:”The reason I wanted to work here was because of the program that has been built, and the community has supported that program.”
According to the attendance figures from NCAA.org for the 2024 season, UTC averaged over 16-hundred fans a game. Kind of interesting that when head coach Shawn Poppie left after last year for Clemson in the ACC, the Mocs averaged nearly 500 more fans a game than Clemson.
Said forward Karsen Murphy:”When we go to other schools, you can tell that there’s not as much pride in their women’s basketball as Chattanooga puts into ours. We’re very thankful for that.”
For the Mocs SoCon game at Greensboro this year. There were only 171 fans on hand.
Said Schirmer:”Sometimes a quiet gym leads to an awkward setting for the players. Sometimes you can see. I’d love to blame our shooting on the quiet gyms.”
Reporter:”Sitting on the bench when there are so few people. Have you tried to count how many people were there?”
Said guard Sigrun Olafsdottir:”Not during a game. I’m too focused on the game, but I probably could as some places for sure.”
Think about this.
The three winningest coaches in women’s college basketball history have all brought their teams to the Roundhouse.
Said Schirmer:”There’s no place like UTC.”
Said Murphy:”We have a phenomenal band. They are our biggest supporters. They chant our names. They make heckling comments to the other team as well. I just think we have such an amazing community here that really takes pride in UTC women’s basketball.”