SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Chattanooga Mocs earned the No. 12 seed in the Bridgeport Region and are set to face fifth-seeded Mississippi State on Friday in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, the seeding committee announced Monday.

The Mocs (24-7) will travel to the Starkville, Miss., to challenge the Bulldogs (26-7) on their home floor due to a scheduling conflict at Michigan State. The contest is slated for 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday and will be televised on ESPN2.

UTC, led by head coach Jim Foster, claimed a share of the Southern Conference regular-season title and went on to beat Mercer 65-57 in the tournament championship on March 6. The Mocs will be making their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance since 1989.

The winner of the Chattanooga-Mississippi State matchup will advance to face either fourth-seeded Michigan State or 13th-seeded Belmont.

-www.SoConSports.com-