CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball head coach Jim Foster announced the release of the 2017-18 schedule that includes 13 home games and a pair of road tournaments.
 
The Mocs will travel to Nashville after Thanksgiving to take on Georgetown, Northwestern and Auburn at the Challenge in Music City. Just before Christmas, UTC will return its game with Florida in the Gator Holiday Classic before taking on Princeton.
 
Just before the Thanksgiving break, the Mocs will travel to Indiana for its third game against the Hoosiers in three years.
 
"It's becoming more and more difficult to schedule 'Power 5' opponents," Foster said. "Those leagues have set certain parameters they allow their schools to play. Anytime you get an opportunity to play them, you jump at it."
 
Chattanooga will take on three teams from last year's Mid-Major Top 25. UTC opens the season on the road at Green Bay on November 11. The Phoenix finished the season ranked fourth in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and advanced to a 17^th NCAA Tournament after winning the Horizon League Tournament.
 
Four days later the Mocs travel to Stetson. The Hatters, winners of the Atlantic Sun regular season title, were ranked 17^th in the poll. SU fell to Florida Gulf Coast in the ASUN Tournament finals. FGCU, ranked 10^th in the College Insider Poll, advanced to the NCAA Tournament after beating Stetson, and lost a heartbreaker, 62-60 to Miami in the first round.
 
"Green Bay and Florida Gulf Coast are always to be respected," Foster said. "They are perineal NCAA Tournament teams."
 
The Mocs home slate is highlighted by a matchup with Virginia Tech and the home-opener against Central Florida in Maclellan Gym. Other non-conference home court matchups include Presbyterian, UT Martin and Hampton.
 
The Mocs will host all seven Southern Conference opponents as they seek a sixth consecutive Southern Conference regular season title.
 
"I think the conference has some very good coaches, evolving programs," Foster said. "The freshman at Greensboro, obviously, will be a sophomore, carrying that team. Samford, Mike's teams are always well drilled, well coached."
 
Mercer, ranked 18^th in the College Insider poll, finished the season tied with UTC for the regular season title and runner-up to Chattanooga in the SoCon Tournament.
 
"ETSU and Mercer have significant talent. I think the league is always improving," Foster said. "The trip to Furman and Wofford is always a tough one. Wofford has a new coach and a new facility and they will be excited about playing in it. Western Carolina has a lot returning and when that's the case, you have the chance to be good fast."
 
Chattanooga will begin the SoCon season at home against UNCG and Western Carolina and finish out on the road at Mercer and Samford. The league tournament will begin March 1 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C.
 
The Mocs return three starters from last year's championships squad
 
"We're looking forward to the opportunity for this young team to get old real quick."
 
 
MOCS FIND SUCCESS IN TRIP TO VANCOUVER
 
The Chattanooga Mocs traveled to Vancouver in mid-August for a three game challenge hosted by Basketball Travelers. The Mocs won their games against Trinity Western University, VK U17 and University of the Fraser Valley.
 
"Five freshmen and a transfer gained great game experience," Chattanooga head coach Jim Foster said. "It was culturally terrific for the players and a good bonding opportunity. A success in every phase."
 
Read each game story here:
Mocs Hold Off Trinity Western 75-69
Dial Leads Mocs in Dominating Win over VK U17
Mocs Edge Fraser Valley in Canada Sweep

While in the Pacific Northwest, the team enjoyed many activities. They were treated to a trip up Grouse Mountain, a walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, a side-trip to Shannon Falls and zip lining down Whistler Mountain.
 
A DAY OUT AT GROUSE MOUNTAIN
The Mocs enjoyed a day on Grouse Mountain. The team road the tram up to the top where many activities were available.
 
After arriving at the top and a quick stop to view the map, the team followed the painted bear claws on the trail and found a Lumberjack competition taking place. Many student-athletes and staff climbed to the top of the mountain while others road the ski lift to reach the crest.
 
The team was treated to an up close look at a pair of orphaned grizzly bears. Coola and Grinder were separated from the crowd by electric wire and seemed mostly disinterested in the throng of photo-snapping onlookers.
 
 
CROSSING THE CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE
The next adventure took the Mocs to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was initially built to provide a shorter route across the river gorge to the other side where hunting and fishing were better.
 
The team ventured across the bridge to find more trails and suspension bridges on the other side while also taking in a lesson on predatory birds. A hawk, falcon and owl were on hand for the demonstration.
 
Once back across, there was another path that ran along the side of the gorge and plenty of shopping.
 
 
MOCS VISIT SHANNON FALLS AND TAME SASQUATCH
Once outside of Vancouver, views of the mountain ranges and inlets abounded along the Sea to Sky Highway.
 
A quick stop at Shannon Falls near Squamish, B.C., provided a breathtaking view of the third highest waterfall in British Columbia.
 
From there the Mocs were provided views of glaciers atop the mountains surrounded them as they made their way into Whistler Blackcomb, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics and one of the largest ski resorts in North America.
 
While waiting for their turn to ride the ski lift up the mountain, the Mocs explored Whistler Village with its shops and restaurants and dodging the mountain bikers.
 
Once to the their destination overlooking the valley, each once took his or her turn on Sasquatch, the longest zip line Canada or the U.S. and third longest in the world.
 
From whistler.ziptrek.com/tours/sasquatch
TOUR DETAILS
Guests will check-in at the kiosk at the base of Blackcomb (Upper Village) and then upload on the Wizard chair to a staging area. Here they will be fitted with their harnesses and helmets prior to taking a van shuttle to the launch of  The Sasquatch^® line. Guests will zipline between the two mountains directly over the Fitzsimmons Valley and end up near mid-mountain on Whistler. Guests will then de-harness and proceed to download on the Whistler Gondola back to the main Village.
The ziplines are gravity fed, so guests do not have to worry about controlling their own speed. Two tour guides will accompany guests on their tour, one guide to connect (launch platform) and one guide to disconnect (landing platform) each and every guest.
The educational component provides a unique insight into the surrounding environment on both a local and global scale. Meanwhile, the ziplines provide an adrenaline rush like no other!