Women's Basketball Southern Conference

Lady Mocs Receiving Votes In Preseason Poll

Chattanooga's women's basketball team received its highest preseason
ranking ever in the just-released USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division I Top 25
Coaches' Poll. The Lady Mocs picked up nine votes, which placed them No. 44
in the nation.

"It's nice that all the hard work that our players have put into building
this program is rewarded with some national preseason recognition," said
UTC head coach Wes Moore. "After being ranked as high as 27th last year, we
hope to continue to rise in the poll as the season progresses. We realize
that will be a great challenge, especially considering our difficult
schedule."

After Chattanooga swept through the Southern Conference Tournament for the
third straight year in 2003, the Lady Mocs were ranked No. 27 in the county
in the coaches' poll. In the 19th poll of the season (March 17-23), UTC
received 36 votes, which was the school's highest ranking ever in that poll.

Chattanooga is the only Southern Conference team receiving votes in the
2003-04 preseason poll. Defending national champion Connecticut was a
unanimous choice for No. 1. UTC's second opponent, 2003 national runner-up
Tennessee, was ranked No. 4.

This year's preseason poll gives credence to UTC's scheduling in recent
years. Six of the top 12 teams in the poll have been played Chattanooga's
in the last few years -- Tennessee, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Penn State,
Georgia and Louisiana Tech.

The Lady Mocs, who were an overwhelming pick by Southern Conference coaches
and media to win their fifth consecutive league championship, play an
exhibition game against the NWBL Elite Team on Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. UTC's
regular-season opener is Nov. 21 at 7 o'clock against Conference USA member
UAB.