The future of ETSU women’s basketball has arrived.
Freshman point guard Ashley Reed came off the bench to score 18 second-half points, leading the Lady Bucs as they pulled away from Radford for a 90-78 victory Wednesday in the Mini-Dome.
“She is a little fireplug for our team,” said senior Erin Thurman of Reed.
Reed led ETSU, now 2-3, with 21 total points and six assists.
Her performance also included 3 for 4 shooting behind the arc and eight of 10 from the foul line, where she helped seal the victory.
“I really felt like she could step in and help us immediately,” saidhead coach Karen Kemp, who added that Reed has the “best work ethic of any kid I’ve ever been around.”
While the freshman from Barrackville, W. Va, powered the second-half offense, sophomore Lauren Trantham ensured the visiting Highlanders (1-4) did not get second chances, pulling down 11 of her 15 rebounds in the second half.
The total defensive effort, however, left something to be desired, according to Kemp.
“We can’t afford to give up 78 points,” she said.
Indeed, sharpshooter Kylie Williamson nailed a whopping six treys, accounting for all but four of her 22 points, while six-foot forward Amanda Neby was a force on the inside, striking for 20 points and 12 rebounds.
“We definitely can’t let teams come into the dome and shoot (as well as they did),” Thurman said.
Yet the consistent scoring of forward Megan Jackson, who finished with 16, and the first-half flash of freshman guard Summer Jones, who hit for nine points before the break, finishing with 11, were enough to complement the backcourt duo of Thurman and Reed.
Starting point guard Thurman, who got off to a slow start but finished above her season average with 13 points, spent much of her time in a more familiar two-guard spot with Reed on the floor.
“Erin really likes the two,” Kemp said, hinting that she and Reed might see more minutes together, and perhaps even start together in the backcourt before the season is over, despite their shared lack of height.
“I was hoping I could keep one coming off the bench,” Kemp said.
Reed said, “I really like playing with Erin.”
Indeed, she also credits her senior teammate with giving her the confidence to ascend into the spotlight.
“At first I was a little nervous,” Reed said, but Thurman and others helped her through that.
“We have so many leaders on this team,” she said.
Now, Reed and the Lady Bucs are in the midst of a week between games, preparing to go on the road Wednesday night to face the season’s first Southern Conference opponent, Wofford, which is picked to finish eighth in the preseason.
The next home game is not until Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m. against Tennessee Tech in the Mini-Dome.

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