UTC women’s basketball seeks return to form

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team, not the defending Southern Conference champion for the first time in more than a decade, kicks off practice this afternoon at McKenzie Arena.

UTC went 17-14 last season and its 13-7 mark in SoCon play was only good enough for third place. The Lady Mocs return their top four scorers from last season, led by center Whitney Hood, who was the SoCon’s leading scorer with 18.8 points per game.

“I think everybody’s hungry and anxious to get going and try to get rid of that bad taste in our mouths,” said coach Wes Moore, whose Lady Mocs won 11 straight SoCon regular-season titles before the streak ended last season.

The Lady Mocs will be a little shorthanded at guard due to freshman Kelsee Cheek’s decision to leave school last month. In addition, freshman Ka’Vonne Towns is still working her way back from knee surgery.

“I’m definitely concerned, depth-wise,” Moore said of the guard position. He said the goal was to get Towns back on the court in time for the season opener.

UTC will play an exhibition against Lee University on Nov. 1 and opens its season on Nov. 11 against UAB in the first game of the Preseason WNIT.