The ETSU Lady Bucs came into Saturday’s game against Appalachian State suffering through a five-game losing streak. Despite a late rally by the Lady Mountaineers, the Lady Bucs got back in the win column with a 74-69 victory.
“It feels good. Hopefully this will turn things around for us,” said Lady Bucs head coach Karen Kemp.
ETSU opened the game quickly, sprinting out to a 21-8 lead.
However, Appalachian responded with a 12-0 spurt, keyed by switching to a zone defense that stifled the Lady Bucs’ momentum.
Freshman Nichelle Akers helped get ETSU back on track scoring seven of her 13 for the game in the final six minutes of the first half to lead the Lady Bucs into the locker room with a 40-34 lead.
“This was Nichelle’s best game of her young career,” Kemp said. “She played well defensively and gave us points on the offensive end.”
Following the break, ETSU went inside to Tiffani Mayes, who answered with six quick points to start the half and extend the Buc lead to 46-36.
Mayes scored a team-high 26 points for the game to go along with 10 rebounds.
Appalachian, behind a stellar effort from Kiki Conyers, who finished with 26 points on the game, refused to go quietly and would not allow the Lady Bucs to put the game away.
With ETSU maintaining a 68-54 lead following a B.J. Banjo bucket, the Mountaineers rattled off eight straight points and eventually cut the lead to 70-67.
“They picked up their defensive intensity and changed defenses, and that threw us off a little bit,” Banjo said.
Banjo then went to the line and hit one of two free throws, giving the Bucs a four-point lead.
Following a missed three-pointer by Appalachian’s Jamie Bennett, Banjo ended the Mountaineers’ hopes with a rebound and a pair of free throws to seal the win.
Banjo, who has struggled of late, felt this game was much needed.
She finished with 22 points on 6-11 shooting from the field, 3-6 from three-point land.
“I have been in a slump for a while and I am trying to get out of it,” Banjo said. “I have been focusing on my shooting. I just want our team to win and do whatever I can to contribute.”
ETSU, now 9-14 overall, 7-9 in league play, travels to play College of Charleston Wednesday night with a new sense of confidence.
“With this win, hopefully we can get things rolling down in Charleston,” Kemp said.
The loss drops Appalachian State to 10-13 overall, 7-9 in Southern Conference action.

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