Education Day brought elementary and middle school students to McKenzie Arena for the Mocs women’s basketball team’s Nov. 3 afternoon affair against King University. Photo by Angela Foster.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team opened the 2025-26 season in front of a loud and lively McKenzie Arena crowd filled with young fans on Monday, Nov. 3.
Nearly 1,500 local elementary and middle school students packed the stands for the annual Education Day game, helping create an atmosphere that matched the energy on the court. The Mocs responded in kind, rolling to an 82-34 win over King University (Tennessee) in a noon tipoff.
Education Day has become a tradition for UTC Athletics, with one early-season game each year moving to a mid-day start so area students can visit campus and experience college basketball firsthand.
The Mocs did plenty of performing. Junior guard Caia Elisaldez led all scorers with 20 points in just 23 minutes of action, one of 11 UTC players to see playing time in the season-opening victory. The Mocs—who enter the campaign as the preseason Southern Conference favorites—led comfortably throughout, showing depth and defensive intensity that set the tone for the months ahead.
Monday’s game marked the earliest season opener in program history and the start of what Head Coach Deandra Schirmer and her squad hope will be a championship run.
The Mocs return to McKenzie Arena on Sunday, Nov. 16, to face the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com or by calling the UTC Ticket Office at 423-266-MOCS (6627).
Education Day photo gallery by Angela Foster
