The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletic department is taking part for the first time in "Giving Tuesday" - a six-year-old global observance set for the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. The UTC Mocs Club and University of Chattanooga Foundation Inc. are calling for help in the "Drive for 25" campaign to raise $25,000 for scholarship funds for the school's athletes. An anonymous donor has agreed to match the gifts up to the goal, according to a recent announcement from the Mocs Club, which noted that football and men's and women's basketball are UTC's only fully funded sports. The Drive for 25 begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday and runs into December. Donors at various levels from $250 to $5,000 and more will be entered in a Mocs Club Raffle for UTC sports-related prizes, including two footballs signed by Terrell Owens and a chance to travel with the men's basketball team on a road trip. "Giving Tuesday has become a staple of philanthropy across college athletics, so being able to launch this campaign on the same day is a great opportunity for our athletic department," vice chancellor and athletic director Mark Wharton said in the release. "We are calling on all our terrific fans and alumni to step up and make a donation as we continue to strive to provide the best possible student-athlete experience for all of our 300 student-athletes." For information, email mocsclub@utc.edu or call 423-425-5866.
Basketball
* Junior guard Lakelyn Bouldin scored in double figures for the sixth time in seven games, but the UTC women's team lost 73-50 to Central Michigan on Sunday, the final day of the Cavalier Classic in Charlottesville, Virginia. Bouldin had 10 points as the only player with double-digit points for the Mocs (4-3), with Arianne Whitaker contributing nine off the bench. Central Michigan's Presley Hudson had 22 points, shooting 4-for-8 from 3-point range, to pace the Chippewas (5-1), who never trailed, leading 19-9, 41-23 and 62-32 at the quarter breaks. The Mocs return to competition Wednesday with a 7 p.m. game against UT-Martin (4-2) at McKenzie Arena.
* The Cleveland State women lost 64-44 to Pensacola State (6-1) on Saturday at Georgia Highlands in Rome. Hannah Phillips scored 16 points to lead the Lady Cougars (2-5), who were ahead 28-27 at halftime. Cleveland State has back-to-back road games, against Jackson State on Friday and against Wallace State on Dec. 4, before its next home date, against Motlow State at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7.