Serbian national Masa Buzic became the latest player to put pen to paper and join the Chattanooga women’s basketball team, head coach Deandra Schirmer announced on Monday.
An 18-year-old standout in her home country of Serbia, Buzic adds an impressive 5-foot-10 frame to the UTC lineup which is paired with her ability to score and rebound the ball. Buzic also joins Sigrun Olafsdottir and Frode Flos van der Schans as players with experience playing in the FIBA European Championships.
“Masa is a versatile player who can impact a team in a number of ways,” Coach Schirmer said.
“I think she is a perfect fit for our system and will be able to thrive here. In addition to her basketball abilities, she is also an amazing person that we are so happy to welcome into our family.”
Most recently in 2023-24, Buzic spent her time playing in the second division of the Women’s Basketball League of Serbia (2. ZLS) for ZKK Ras. With Ras, Buzic averaged 26.8 minutes/game serving as the team’s starting shooting guard.
Buzic ended her year with Ras having scored 223 points (13.9 points/game), holding shooting splits of 43 percent (81-for-190) from the field, 37 percent (35-for-95) from behind the arc and 76 percent (26-for-34) from the free throw line. ZKK Ras ultimately ended the 2023-24 season with a record of 17-1, with Buzic serving as a primary contributor to the team’s success.
The rising freshman also adds some more international experience to the Mocs’ 2024-25 roster, with Buzic being a part of the Serbia’s U18 National Team during the 2023 FIBA Women’s European Championship in Turkey. Buzic and the rest of the Serbian squad ultimately finished in fourth-place in the tournament, falling to Spain in third-place game.
Over the course of the 2023 European Championships, Buzic averaged 9.7 minutes/game, 4.1 points/game, 1.4 rebounds/game and 0.4 assists/game. Buzic’s best game came in the group stage against Spain, scoring her tournament-best of 10 points. She went on to have two additional eight-point games against Finland in the Round of 16 and against Poland in the Quarterfinals.
A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Buzic was born on October 7, 2005. She becomes the first Class of 2024 freshman to sign under Coach Schirmer’s staff.