Women's Championship - Samford Postgame Presser

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Women’s Basketball

Women's Championship - UTC Postgame Presser

Women's Semifinals - SAM Press Conference

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Samford VS ETSU - WBB Semifinals Full Game Highlights

Box Score

Asheville, NC

Samford Bulldogs

Samford Bulldogs Women's Basketball team

ETSU Buccaneers (Bucs)

ETSU Buccaneers (Bucs) Women's Basketball team

2026-03-06 | Women's Basketball | Samford Bulldogs vs ETSU Buccaneers (Bucs) | #2823438 | COMPLETE

Furman Women's Basketball

Furman Paladins

Furman University

Help us off the court, so we can dominate on it! Happy Dins Day, Furman family! We appreciate your support! Click the link in our bio to donate!

#justus #dinsday https://t.co/UQZMt3akEn

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WOFFORD WBB

Wofford

Wofford College

Welcome to Wofford, @olanoworol20 🤝

#ConquerandPrevail #ForTheW https://t.co/kCGNJeIwqI

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ETSU WBB

ETSU Buccaneers

East Tennessee State University

thank YOU 🫵 for your support of ETSU women’s basketball during #ForeverETSU ⚡️

#GoBucs https://t.co/2GKG8uthmQ

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Samford Women's Basketball

Samford University

Happy Birthday @KayleeYarbrou13‼️🎂

#AllForSAMford https://t.co/BFgdSo1BK4

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Chattanooga WBB

Chattanooga Mocs

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Officially a Lady Moc ✍️

Welcome home @gabbiegrooms._ 💛 https://t.co/CDDB4eiaFa

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Welcome to Wofford, Mearah Whitehead 🤝

#ConquerandPrevail #ForTheW https://t.co/piacqNWt8M

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UNCG WBB

UNC Greensboro

North Carolina Greensboro

Welcome to the Boro, Marina Kusanovic!✍️
#letsgoG https://t.co/udMf65Hm5i

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CAMP SEASON IS UPON US!!🤩🥳

Don’t miss out on all the different opportunities coming up this summer! Check to see which camp best fits what you’re looking for!

June 5-6: TEAM CAMP
June 7: ELITE CAMP
June 29-July 2: KIDS CAMP

GO MOCS! https://t.co/sR4hiPZfxh

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Welcome to the G, Laneigh Scales! 😎
#letsgoG https://t.co/pxn1VKxWdE

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CAMP SEASON IS UPON US!!🤩🥳

Don’t miss out on all the different opportunities coming up this summer! Check to see which camp best fits what you’re looking for!

June 5-6: TEAM CAMP
June 7: ELITE CAMP
June 29-July 2: KIDS CAMP

GO MOCS! https://t.co/jusqgEFsTj

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SoCon White:Red Logo.png

The Southern Conference

Southern Conference

Samford Falls to Southern in NCAA Tournament

caia

Chattanooga Women's Basketball's Season Ends at NDSU in WBIT First Round

samford

Samford Selected To Play In One of The First Four Games of The 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship

wbit

Chattanooga Selected to WBIT

<div class="payload-richtext">ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- No. 6 Samford completed its three-day sweep of the SoCon co-champions, winning the  Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship on Sunday at Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville.Following wins over Wofford and ETSU, the Bulldogs rallied from an early 11-point deficit for a 72-67 victory over top-seeded Chattanooga. The championship was the fourth for the Bulldogs and their first since 2020. The Mocs, who have a league best 20 titles, lost in the championship game for the second straight year.Reserve guard Kaylee Yarbrough scored 25 points in 23 minutes to lead the Bulldogs in scoring. Teammate Francie Morris added 22 points, six rebounds and three assists.Guard Caia Elisaldez, the SoCon's regular season Player of the Year, led the Mocs with 20 points, while teammate Izzy McPherson contributed 17.Chattanooga made its first five shots to take a 14-3 lead. Unshaken, Samford bounced back and took control, leading 23-20 after the first quarter.The pace slowed in the second period as Samford's defense took control, limiting the Mocs to just seven points in assuming a 35-27 halftime lead.Yarbrough scored seven straight points near the end of the third period to give the Bulldogs a 13-point, 54-41 lead, their biggest of the game. The Mocs, though, rallied in the final 10 minutes behind the scoring of Elizaldez and McPherson and pulled within three at 70-67 with 29.8 seconds left. The Mocs had a chance to tie in the final 10 seconds but a 3-point attempt by Gianna Corbitt was off the mark. Samford’s Brianna Rivera then made two free throws to secure the win for the Bulldogs. Things to know:-- After missing four of its first five field-goal attempts, Samford went on to finish 25-of-47 for 53.2 percent. The Bulldogs were 10-of-17 on 3-point attempts for 58.8 percent. -- Yarbrough, who averaged 11.9 points during the season, led Samford during the tournament with 45 points total points. Morris scored 44 points (14.7 per game) after averaging 7.9 during the season.-- Chattanooga established a tournament record for most 3-pointers made with 34 and most  attempts with 84. The Mocs' Corbitt tied the tournament record for most 3-pointers made with 12, joining three other players.  First Team All-TournamentAlyssa Ervin, Furman Gianna Corbitt, ChattanoogaCaia Elisaldez, ChattanoogaFrancie Morris, Samford Kaylee Yarbrough, Samford Second Team All-TournamentClare Coyle, Furman Meghan Downing, ETSU Daniela Lopez, ETSUCarmen Richardson, ETSUSierra Godbolt, Samford Most Outstanding Player Francie Morris, Samford Knight Commission Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team) Alyssa Tarpley, Samford</div>

SamChamps

Samford's Morris and Yarbrough combine for 47 to lead Bulldogs to SoCon crown

NWCD

Celebrating National Women Coaches Day

<div class="payload-richtext">Game 5 – No. 1 Chattanooga 76, No. 4 Furman 65ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Gianna Corbitt and Caia Elisaldez were dominant on Friday, powering No. 1 seed Chattanooga to a spot in the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game.Corbitt, a sophomore forward, and Elisaldez, a junior point guard and the SoCon Player of the Year, scored 29 and 28 points, respectively, in a 76–65 semifinal win over No. 4 Furman at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville. Elisaldez’s 28 points marked a career high.Corbitt, who scored 20 points in Thursday’s win over Western Carolina, shot 10‑of‑16 from the field and 5‑of‑10 from three‑point range. Her 11 made threes over the last two days leave her just one shy of the tournament record. She also led all players with 13 rebounds and four steals. Corbitt’s most productive stretch came in the third quarter, when she scored 13 points as the Mocs outscored the Paladins 29–23 to build a 62–46 lead.Elisaldez, who entered the game averaging a team‑best 16 points per contest, scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including the final three of the game after Furman cut a 20‑point deficit (73–53) down to eight. She also added four assists.For Furman, Clare Coyle scored 17 points and Alyssa Erwin added 15.Chattanooga improved to 20–9 and will face the winner of ETSU vs. Samford in Sunday’s championship game at noon. The Mocs will be seeking their 21st SoCon title.<h3>Notes</h3><ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Corbitt is 11‑of‑19 from three‑point range in the tournament. She is one make shy of tying the record for most threes in a single tournament and needs eight more attempts to tie the attempts record (27).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >Chattanooga has made 21‑of‑46 three‑point attempts as a team. The tournament record for most made threes is 31, set by the Mocs in 2010.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >Chattanooga scored 24 points off 16 Furman turnovers.</li></ul>*********Game 6 – No. 6 Samford 57, No. 2 ETSU 48 ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Strong shooting both inside and beyond the arc lifted No. 6 Samford to a 57–48 win over No. 2 ETSU in Friday afternoon’s semifinal of the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville.Samford improved to 15–18 and advanced to Sunday’s championship game against top‑seeded Chattanooga, which shared the regular‑season title with ETSU and Wofford. The Buccaneers concluded the season at 18–13.The Bulldogs were efficient offensively, shooting 46.3 percent (19‑of‑41) from the field and 38.1 percent (8‑of‑21) from three‑point range. ETSU struggled throughout, finishing at 28.3 percent (17‑of‑60), marking the eighth time this season the Bucs shot under 30 percent.ETSU swept the regular‑season series but fell behind early on Friday, trailing 27–21 at halftime. Samford opened the third quarter with a 14–5 run to build a 41–26 lead and maintained control the rest of the way to secure the nine‑point victory.Four Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by Francie Morris with 15 points and a game‑high 11 rebounds. Kaylee Yarbrough added 13 points off the bench, while Sierra Godbolt scored 12 and Briana Rivera contributed 10.Daniela López led ETSU with 13 points, and Carmen Richardson added 11.<h3>Notes</h3><ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Samford last reached the SoCon title game in 2020, when it defeated UNCG 59–54. The Bulldogs are 3–1 all‑time in championship games.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >Samford and Chattanooga split their regular‑season meetings, with each team winning at home.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >After a five‑game losing streak in January, Samford has won seven of its last nine games.</li></ul></div>

UTC_SAM

WBK: No.1 Chattanooga and No. 6 Samford advance to conference championship

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 6 Samford 59, No. 3 Wofford 57 ASHEVILLE, N.C. — No. 6 Samford survived a late surge from No. 3 Wofford to secure a 59–57 victory and advance to the semifinals of the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville on Thursday.Samford built an 18‑point lead midway through the third quarter, but Wofford trimmed the margin to eight by the end of the period and continued its rally in the fourth.A steal and layup by Queen Ikhiuwu brought the Terriers within 59–57 with 2:32 remaining, but those proved to be the final points of the game. Wofford committed two turnovers and missed two shots on its last four possessions, including a potential game‑winning 3‑pointer by Molly Masingale that fell short in the closing seconds.Samford improved to 14–18 and will face No. 2 ETSU in Friday’s 1:15 p.m. semifinal.Sierra Godbolt scored 15 points and Brianna Riviera added 14 to lead the Bulldogs. Ikhiuwu posted game highs in points and rebounds with 16 and 14, respectively, while Masingale and Maddie Heiss contributed 15 and 14 points for Wofford.Samford trailed for much of the first half before closing on a 15–3 run over the final five minutes to erase a 20–13 deficit and take a 28–23 lead into halftime.The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a 19–6 run to build a 47–28 advantage before Wofford called timeout with 4:25 left in the third quarter.The Terriers responded with a 14–4 run to close the period, cutting the deficit to 51–43 entering the fourth and setting up their final push.<h3>Notes</h3><ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Ikhiuwu’s double‑double was her sixth of the season.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >Samford, which dropped both regular‑season meetings to Wofford, earned its first SoCon Tournament win since reaching the semifinals in 2022.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >Wofford missed the semifinals for the first time since 2020.</li></ul>******** No. 4 Furman 66, No. 5 Mercer 45 ASHEVILLE, N.C. — No. 4 Furman used a dominant second half to pull away from No. 5 Mercer in a 66–45 victory in Thursday night’s quarterfinal of the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville.Furman and Mercer split their regular‑season meetings, each winning by double digits on the road. Their third matchup unfolded much differently early, featuring 17 lead changes — 12 of them in the second quarter — before the teams entered halftime tied at 29–29. The tone shifted dramatically after the break.Mercer struck first in the third quarter on a 3‑pointer by Micah O’Dell, who finished with a team‑high 14 points, giving the Bears a 32–29 lead. From there, Furman seized control. Guard Alyssa Erwin scored eight points in the period, going 5‑for‑5 at the free‑throw line and adding a 3‑pointer to help the Paladins build an eight‑point advantage. Mercer’s Ariana Bennett closed the quarter with two free throws to make it 45–39.Furman continued its surge in the fourth. After a Mercer free throw cut the margin to 52–40, the Paladins scored the next 12 points to put the game out of reach.Erwin delivered a standout performance, scoring 27 points on 8‑of‑15 shooting, including 4‑of‑7 from beyond the arc. Clare Coyle added 10 points for the Paladins.Furman advances to face top‑seeded Chattanooga on Friday at 11 a.m.<h3>Things to know</h3><ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Furman scored 21 points off 21 Mercer turnovers.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >After shooting 48 percent (12‑of‑25) in the first half, Mercer made just 5‑of‑24 attempts (20.8 percent) after halftime.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >Furman dropped both regular‑season meetings with Chattanooga.</li></ul> </div>

SAM_FUR

Mercer

WBK: Samford, Furman advance to semifinals

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 1 Chattanooga 66, No. 8 Western Carolina 47ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Top‑seeded Chattanooga returned to form with a 66–47 win over No. 8 Western Carolina in the opening game of the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville. The Mocs (19–9) had dropped their final two regular‑season games to fall into a three‑way tie with Wofford and ETSU for the league title, but they responded with a strong performance against the Catamounts. Forward Gianna Corbitt led Chattanooga’s perimeter attack, as the Mocs connected on 13 of 30 attempts from beyond the arc. Corbitt, named to the SoCon All‑Defensive Team earlier in the week, hit four 3‑pointers in the first quarter and scored 14 points in the opening frame to help Chattanooga build a 19–11 lead. Western Carolina tightened its defense early in the second quarter, outscoring the Mocs 6–2 to pull within 21–15. Chattanooga answered with 3‑pointers from Corbitt, Kalifa Ford, and Sarah Owona to take a 30–19 lead into halftime. The Mocs erupted for 25 points in the third quarter. While Corbitt was held scoreless in the period, Ford knocked down two of the team’s four 3‑pointers as Chattanooga extended its lead to 55–33. Corbitt finished 6‑of‑9 from long range and scored a game‑high 20 points, coming within one make of tying the tournament record of seven 3‑pointers, shared by four players. Things to knowCaia Elisaldez, the SoCon Player of the Year, scored five points on 2‑of‑5 shooting and added three assists. Chattanooga recorded 18 assists against 11 turnovers; Western Carolina had 19 turnovers and eight assists. Western Carolina’s last SoCon Tournament win came in 2014, when the Catamounts advanced to the semifinals. Ford and Ava Card scored 11 points each for Chattanooga. Ally Hollifield and Grace Park led WCU with 16 and 13 points, respectively. No. 2 ETSU 62, No. 7 UNCG 50ASHEVILLE, N.C. — No. 2 seed ETSU used its best 3‑point shooting performance of the season to defeat No. 7 seed and defending champion UNCG, 62–50, in Thursday afternoon’s quarterfinal at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville. The Buccaneers (18–12) made a season‑high 11 3‑pointers and shot a season‑best 50 percent (11‑of‑22) from beyond the arc. Their perimeter accuracy outpaced their two‑point shooting, as ETSU went 10‑of‑37 (27 percent) inside the arc. The Bucs finished 21‑of‑59 overall (36 percent), while UNCG (14–16) shot 21‑of‑60 (35 percent). Freshman guard Emmah McAmis came off the bench to score a career‑high 12 points on 4‑of‑6 shooting, including a perfect 3‑for‑3 from long range. Sophomore guard Carmen Richardson led ETSU with 14 points, and Daniela López added 11 points with three 3‑pointers. Makiah Asidanya led UNCG with 15 points. ETSU overcame a difficult start to take a 32–26 halftime lead. The Bucs missed their first 11 field‑goal attempts as UNCG opened with a 12–0 run, but McAmis entered and immediately sparked the offense with three baskets, including two 3‑pointers, to cut the deficit to 14–8. Richardson and López each hit a 3‑pointer as ETSU tied the game at 14–14 to end the first quarter. UNCG briefly regained the lead early in the second, but the Bucs responded with a 29–21 advantage after back‑to‑back 3‑pointers from reserve guard Lucy Hood, prompting a Spartans timeout with 1:39 left in the half. After halftime, McAmis hit another 3‑pointer to ignite a 13–5 run, giving ETSU a 49–38 lead entering the fourth quarter. UNCG pulled within 53–48 midway through the final period, but the Bucs answered with a 9–0 run, capped by five straight points from López, to push the lead to 62–48 with under two minutes remaining. Things to knowSenior guard Anala Nelson scored four points for ETSU, reaching 1,000 career points. Head coach Brenda Mock Brown advanced to the SoCon semifinals for the second time in her four seasons at ETSU. She previously led UNC Asheville to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017. UNCG will miss the semifinals for the first time since 2022. The Spartans finished second in 2024 before winning last year’s championship in overtime against Chattanooga.</div>

UTC/ETSU 

Western Carolina

WBK: Chattanooga, ETSU advance to semifinals

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced the 2025-26 women's basketball postseason awards on Tuesday. Selections include the coaches' all-conference teams and specialty awards.  Chattanooga’s Caia Elisaldez was tabbed the conference’s player of the year by the coaches. Wofford’s Gabby Mundy was voted freshman of the year. ETSU earned two postseason recognitions, as Meghan Downing was voted defensive player of the year, and was joined by her head coach Brenda Mock Brown, who was voted coach of the year.  UNCG’s Jaila Lee was named the Ann Lashley Inspiration award winner.    The 2026 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship begins Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at noon ET and will be televised on ESPNU.    All-Southern Conference Women's Basketball Honorees <div style="text-align: left;" class="lexical-table-container">
 <table class="lexical-table" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
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 Player of the Year 
 </td>
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 Caia Elisaldez, Chattanooga 
 </td>
 
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 Freshman of the Year 
 </td>
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 Gabby Mundy, Wofford 
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 Defensive Player of the Year 
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 Meghan Downing, ETSU 
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 Sixth Woman of the Year 
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 Francie Morris, Samford 
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 Ann Lashley Inspiration Award 
 </td>
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 Jaila Lee, UNCG 
 </td>
 
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 Coach of the Year 
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 Brenda Mock Brown, ETSU  
 </td>
 
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 All-SoCon First Team 
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 Clare Coyle, Furman Gianna Corbitt, Chattanooga Caia Elisaldez, Chattanooga Queen Ikhiuwu, Wofford Gabby Mundy, Wofford 
 </td>
 
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 All-SoCon Second Team 
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 Anala Nelson, ETSU  Meghan Downing, ETSU Alyssa Ervin, Furman Nahawa Diarra, Mercer Jeni Levine, UNCG 
 </td>
 
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 >
 All-Defensive Team 
 </td>
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 Meghan Downing, ETSU  Carmen Richardson, ETSU  Clare Coyle, Furman Nahawa Diarra, Mercer Gianna Corbitt, Chattanooga 
 </td>
 
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 All-Freshman Team 
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 Rania Curry, Mercer Francie Morris, Samford Kaylee Yarbrough, Samford Izzy McPherson, Chattanooga Gabby Mundy, Wofford 
 </td>
 
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 </table>
 </div>    Notes <ul style="text-align: left;" class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Caia Elisaldez was voted the SoCon Player of the Year by the coaches after being named the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year at the beginning of the season.  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >Meghan Downing is ETSU’s second Defensive Player of the Year, joining Erica Haynes-Overton who won it back-to-back in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >Gabby Mundy is Wofford’s fourth Freshman of the Year, the third voted by coaches. Evangelia Paulk won the honor from a media panel following the 2023-24 season. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 >Jaila Lee is UNCG’s third Ann Lashley award winner, and the first since Aja Boyd in 2021-22.  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 >Francie Morris is Samford’s first Sixth Woman of the Year honoree, and the second in league history.  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 >Brenda Mock Brown won her second Coach of the Year award; she previously won the honor at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. She is the third Bucs coach to win the award.  </li></ul>  </div>

2026 WBK All-SoCon

All-SoCon women's basketball teams announced

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  UNCG’s Makiah Asidanya has been named the Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for games played on Feb. 24-March 2. The junior guard matched her career-high of five three-pointers in one game to help lead the Spartans to a win against Western Carolina.  A native of Pittsburg, California, Asidanya scored 21 points in the win and added three rebounds, three assists, and a steal in the performance.  Asidanya ranks second on her team in points per game (11.1) and third in rebounds (3.8). She also received the league’s weekly honor during opening week. Also nominated: Clare Coyle – Furman, Talia Kemp – Mercer, Gianna Corbitt – Chattanooga, Anala Nelson – ETSU  2025-26 SoCon Women’s Basketball Players of the Week  Nov. 11 – Makiah Asidanya, Jr., G, UNCG  Nov. 18 – Queen Ikhiuwu, Jr., F, Wofford  Nov. 25 -  Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 2 -  Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga  Dec. 9 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 16 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Dec. 23 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 30 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Jan. 6 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman  Jan. 13 – Jaila Lee, Sr., G, UNCG  Jan. 20 – Alyssa Ervin, So., G, Furman  Jan. 27 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford  Feb. 3 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman Feb. 10 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford Feb. 17 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Feb. 24 – Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga March 3 – Makiah Asidayna, Jr., G, UNCG   </div>

UNCG's Asidanya named SoCon Player of the Week 

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Chattanooga, ETSU, and Wofford each claimed a share of the regular‑season conference crown as league play wrapped up on Feb. 28. The Mocs, Bucs, and Terriers all finished with a 10–4 conference record, with seeding determined by head‑to‑head results. Chattanooga earned the No. 1 seed in the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship, which takes place March 5–9 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina.   The tournament begins Thursday, March 5, with the quarterfinal games. Two semifinal matchups follow on Friday, March 6, and the championship game is set for Sunday, March 8, at noon. The women’s title game will air live on ESPNU, while the remaining six games will stream on ESPN+. The two semifinal games will also be appearing on select Nexstar affiliates across the Southeast.   Chattanooga secured its 24th SoCon regular‑season title, the most of any program in the league. ETSU closed the conference slate on a five‑game winning streak to earn its share of the crown, while Wofford clinched a share as well, marking just the second regular‑season championship in program history for the Terriers.   The last three‑way tie for the SoCon women’s basketball regular‑season title occurred during the 2019–20 season, when Samford, Chattanooga, and UNCG all finished atop the standings. Samford went on to win the tournament that year. However, the Bulldogs were not able to participate in the NCAA Tournament after it was cancelled due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. This year’s three‑way tie marks just the second occurrence in league history.  Chattanooga opens play in the first quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 5, at 11 a.m., where the Mocs will take on No. 8 seed Western Carolina. Chattanooga swept the Catamounts in the regular season, winning, 61-52, on Jan. 24, and 52-36, on Feb. 19.   Thursday’s second contest will see No. 2 seed ETSU take on No. 7 seed UNCG at 1:15 p.m. The Bucs won both matchups in the regular season, winning, 58-48, on Jan. 24, and 52-39, on Feb. 19.   Game 3 features No. 3 seed Wofford and No. 6 seed Samford, who will tip-off at 3:30 p.m. Wofford won both regular season meetings, topping the Bulldogs, 80-56, on Jan. 22, and 52-44, on Feb. 21.   The final opening day game will feature No. 4 seed Furman against No. 5 seed Mercer at 5:45 p.m. The two teams split contests in the regular season, with the road team coming out victorious in both games. Furman won, 60-49, back on Jan. 22, and Mercer got an 80-63 victory on Feb. 21.   The winners of game 1 and game 4 will face off in the first game of the semifinals at 11 a.m. on Friday, followed by the winners of game 2 and game 3 at 1:15 p.m.    Thursday, March 5 (ESPN+) Game 1 – No. 1 Chattanooga vs. No. 8 Western Carolina, 11 a.m.*  Game 2 – No. 2 ETSU vs. No. 7 UNCG, 1:15 p.m.  Game 3 – No. 3 Wofford vs. No. 6 Samford, 3:30 p.m.  Game 4 – No. 4 Furman vs. No. 5 Mercer, 5:45 p.m.  Friday, March 6 (ESPN+) Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 11 a.m.*  Game 6 – Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 1:15 p.m.    Sunday, March 8 (ESPNU) Championship Game, Noon   * Tip-off as part of Education Day program on March 6 and March 7.     -www.SoConSports.com-   </div>

champ

SoCon women’s basketball tournament bracket set 

ingles

Men’s Basketball

The Ingles Southern Conference Mascot Challenge

<div class="payload-richtext">Asheville, NC (March 5th – 9th, 2026)---- The Ingles Southern Conference (SoCon) Basketball Tournament arrives in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Ingles and SoCon work with Eblen Charities and select area hotels to collect food for the Hoops Against Hunger program. In 2025 Eblen collected over 9000 pounds of food distributed to the Buncombe County Family Resource Center to help feed area children during school breaks. For more information and a list of participating hotels please go to <a href="https://www.eblencharities.org/hoops-against-hunger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 https://www.eblencharities.org/hoops-against-hunger
 </a>. Other events associated with the tournament are Downtown Dribble, Education Days and the Mascot Challenge.  The Ingles Mascot Challenge is another way Ingles likes to get involved in our communities. The Ingles Mascot Challenge is an annual event where fans can vote for their favorite mascot hype video, if their school chooses to participate. (Please note that UTC chose not participate in this year’s Mascot Challenge due to an existing sponsor conflict but was not precluded from participating by Ingles Markets.) The challenge is made to provide a little friendly competition off the court. The winning mascot receives a $1,000 scholarship to the winning school’s athletic department and Ingles Markets will donate another $1,000 to Hoops Against Hunger on behalf of the winning school. Voting for your favorite mascot is open to everyone and you can vote until 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 8th, 2026. You can vote once per day, per device. To view and vote for your favorite mascot challenge video go to <a href="https://www.ingles-markets.com/mascotchallenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 https://www.ingles-markets.com/mascotchallenge
 </a>.  The Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Tournament features Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship’s and is an affordable family outing. For more information on tickets and events visit - <a href="https://www.soconinasheville.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 https://www.soconinasheville.com
 </a>   ###  About Ingles Markets, Incorporated   <a href="http://www.ingles-markets.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Ingles Markets, Incorporated
 </a> is a leading grocer with operations in six southeastern states. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the Company operates 197 supermarkets. At December 27, 2025, three of the four stores temporarily closed due to damage sustained in Hurricane Helene remained closed, but are expected to reopen during 2026 and 2027. In conjunction with its supermarket operations, the Company operates neighborhood shopping centers, most of which contain an Ingles supermarket. The Company also owns a fluid dairy facility that supplies Ingles supermarkets and unaffiliated customers. To learn more about Ingles Markets visit <a href="http://www.ingles-markets.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 ingles-markets.com
 </a>  About The Southern Conference The Southern Conference The Southern Conference is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, consisting of 10 full-member schools across six states in 20 sponsored sports. Nine other institutions serve as affiliate members in the SoCon-sponsored sports of wrestling and rifle. The SoCon is celebrating its 105th anniversary in 2026. The fifth-oldest NCAA Division I college athletic association, the SoCon contested the first-ever collegiate conference basketball tournament in 1921, tackled freshman eligibility in 1922, became the first conference to adopt the 3-point field goal in basketball in 1980 and developed women’s championships in 1984.   About Eblen Charities Eblen Charities is based in Asheville, North Carolina, Eblen Charities has been dedicated to serving the community for over 35 years. Focused on assisting individuals and families facing financial, medical, or emergency hardships, Eblen Charities provides vital support through various programs and community partnerships. For more information, visit [website] or follow our efforts to support the community visit <a href="http://www.eblencharities.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 www.eblencharities.org
 </a>  </div>

Ingles Markets and The Southern Conference Basketball Tournament 

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  Chattanooga's Caia Elisaldez has been named the Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for games played on Feb. 17-23. The junior guard was Chattanooga’s leading scorer in their home wins against Western Carolina and UNCG last week.  A native of Whittier, California, Elisaldez averaged 19.5 points on 56 percent shooting from the field, four rebounds, and 4.5 assists across both contests. Her performance included scoring 10 of Chattanooga’s 21 points scored in the fourth quarter against UNCG on Feb. 21, erasing an eight-point deficit to give the Mocs a 56-54 win. Elisaldez leads the league in points (16.0) and assists (5.2) per game. She has received the league’s weekly honor on two occasions this season.  The Mocs will close out the regular season on the road as they face Samford on Feb. 26 and Mercer on Feb. 28.  Also nominated: Meghan Downing – ETSU, Maddie Heiss – Wofford, Francie Morris – Samford, Jeni Levine – UNCG  2025-26 SoCon Women’s Basketball Players of the Week  Nov. 11 – Makiah Asidanya, Jr., G, UNCG  Nov. 18 – Queen Ikhiuwu, Jr., F, Wofford  Nov. 25 -  Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 2 -  Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga  Dec. 9 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 16 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Dec. 23 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 30 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Jan. 6 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman  Jan. 13 – Jaila Lee, Sr., G, UNCG  Jan. 20 – Alyssa Ervin, So., G, Furman  Jan. 27 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford  Feb. 3 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman Feb. 10 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford Feb. 17 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Feb. 24 – Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga  </div>

Chattanooga’s Elisaldez named SoCon Player of the Week 

ZOOM INTERVIEW SIMMONS

SoCon Interview: Ashleigh Simmons, NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Member

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  Chattanooga's Gianna Corbitt has been named the Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for games played on Feb. 10-16. The sophomore forward posted her sixth double-double of the season against ETSU on Feb. 14, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Her performance also included three steals and two blocks, and a perfect 4-for-4 showing at the charity stripe.  A native of Oakland Park, Florida, Corbitt leads her team in rebounds (8.2), steals (2.0), blocks (0.7), field goal percentage (50.6), and three-point percentage (43.2). Corbitt ranks among the top 60 nationally in field goal percentage.  Corbitt has received the league’s weekly honor on four occasions this season.  Also nominated: Gabby Mundy – Wofford, Clare Coyle-Furman, Makiah Asidanya – UNCG 2025-26 SoCon Women’s Basketball Players of the Week  Nov. 11 – Makiah Asidanya, Jr., G, UNCG  Nov. 18 – Queen Ikhiuwu, Jr., F, Wofford  Nov. 25 -  Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 2 -  Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga  Dec. 9 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 16 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Dec. 23 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 30 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Jan. 6 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman  Jan. 13 – Jaila Lee, Sr., G, UNCG  Jan. 20 – Alyssa Ervin, So., G, Furman  Jan. 27 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford  Feb. 3 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman Feb. 10 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford Feb. 17 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga   </div>

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Chattanooga’s Corbitt named SoCon Player of the Week 

SoCon Women's Basketball Interview: Caia Elisaldez, UTC

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference and Big South Conference today announced a new two-year basketball scheduling series beginning in 2026-27 that will feature 18 men’s games and 18 women’s match-ups played on selected dates each season. Most schools will play one home game and one road game against different opponents, and the contests would be in addition to any current agreement in place between two institutions. This is the SoCon's second schedule alliance agreement. The conference will continue its scheduling alliance with the Atlantic Sun. The men’s game dates are currently scheduled for Nov. 18 and 21, 2026, and Nov. 17 and 20, 2027, with the women’s dates slated for Nov. 21 through Dec. 19, 2026, and Nov. 20 and Dec. 1, 2027. Opponent location would not repeat from 2026-27 to 2027-28, although some teams may be matched with the same opponent from one year to the next. All matchups and game dates will be determined by mutual agreement of both Commissioners. "Our athletic directors and basketball coaches continue to be proactive in addressing one of college basketball's most persistent challenges – Division I non-conference scheduling. This alliance with the Big South reflects a shared commitment to providing our student-athletes with competitive geographically aligned scheduling opportunities that strengthen our programs and give fans the quality matchups they seek,” said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. “By partnering with the Big South, we're taking a proactive approach to solving scheduling problems while creating games that will generate excitement across both leagues. This is exactly the kind of collaborative solution basketball needs and we’re looking forward to a long-standing partnership." “This scheduling alliance underscores our continued commitment to strengthening basketball in the Big South Conference,” said Big South Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery. “Our basketball coaches and directors of athletics were united in the need for an intentional scheduling approach -- one that balances competitive excellence with regional relevance. The partnership with the Southern Conference enhances competitive opportunities, preserves regional rivalries, and delivers quality home games that strengthen the Big South’s basketball profile while enriching the experience for student-athletes and fans alike. This forward-looking initiative represents a strategic approach to scheduling and positions both conferences to further elevate their basketball profiles and competitive impact.” For the men’s annual series, opponents will not be determined until after the transfer portal closes but no later than May 31. The leagues will utilize predictive analytics to determine the best matchups. Projected NET rankings will be the primary factor in scheduling games. Whenever possible, secondary consideration will be given to geographic proximity. For the women’s series, opponents will be determined no later than April 1. Geographic proximity and NET rankings will be considered to create competitive matchups. ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (www.SoConSports.com)The Southern Conference, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., includes ten member institutions across six states: The Citadel, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, Mercer University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Samford University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University, and Wofford College. Tennessee Tech University will join the SoCon as a full member for the 2026-27 season.WHAT’S THE BIG SOUTH? (www.BigSouthSports.com)For more than 40 years, the Big South Conference has been an exemplary leader in college athletics since its founding in 1983, dedicated to developing student-athletes through the pursuit of excellence in the classroom, community and field of play. The league’s growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is made evident by its multitude of athletic accomplishments, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages and most importantly, its commitment to fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes. Comprised of nine full member institutions sharing a common geographic region and similar academic values and purposes, the Big South’s remarkable history of achievement is characterized by the league’s 19 championship sports and the profound academic and life successes of its more than 3,200 student-athletes. This has evolved into the conference’s “Where Winners Are Made” mantra as part of a strategic emphasis through its Core Values of Academic Centrality; Athletic Excellence; Sportsmanship & Fair Play; and Student-Athlete Welfare. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.BigSouthSports.com">
 www.BigSouthSports.com
 </a>. -#ItsAllHere-</div>

SCBS

SOCON AND BIG SOUTH PARTNER FOR BASKETBALL SCHEDULING ALLIANCE 

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  Wofford’s Gabby Mundy has been named the Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for games played on Feb. 3 – 9. The freshman guard averaged 25 points on 42.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc, while also averaging four rebounds and three assists during the week of play.  Her week was highlighted by a career high of 32 points, which included a perfect 10-of-10 performance from the free throw line, in the Terriers’ 67-63 win against Chattanooga on Feb. 7. Wofford handed the Mocs their first conference loss of the season in that game. Mundy currently leads the conference in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game overall and 20.6 points per game in league action.  Also nominated: Francie Morris – Samford, Jeni Levine – UNCG, Caia Elisaldez – Chattanooga  2025-26 SoCon Women’s Basketball Players of the Week  Nov. 11 – Makiah Asidanya, Jr., G, UNCG  Nov. 18 – Queen Ikhiuwu, Jr., F, Wofford  Nov. 25 -  Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 2 -  Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga  Dec. 9 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 16 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Dec. 23 – Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga  Dec. 30 – Kaylee Yarbrough, Fr., G, Samford  Jan. 6 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman  Jan. 13 – Jaila Lee, Sr., G, UNCG  Jan. 20 – Alyssa Ervin, So., G, Furman  Jan. 27 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford  Feb. 3 – Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman Feb. 10 – Gabby Mundy, Fr., G, Wofford   </div>

SoCon Women’s Basketball News

Headlines