Senior guard Tara Davis proved that she is ready to handle the load. She put up a career-high 27 points in ETSU’s 96-84 victory against the Richmond Spiders yesterday.Davis, who also led the team with nine turnovers, acknowledged that she had even more to work on.
“I liked the tempo of the game but I really have to control better,” said Davis.
Head coach Karen Kemp recognizes Davis’ ability to play her hardest.
“Tara is such a competitor,” said Kemp after the game. “But sometimes she goes 90 miles an hour when we don’t really need her to.
“This year she realizes that she’s going to have to step up her offense, and so far she has done that for us.”
Davis played a big part in the 9-0 run early in the first half that gave the Lady Bucs a 19-11 lead going into the second media break.
However, the two fouls that she picked up earned her some sitting time for most of the first half.
While she was out, freshman guard Destiny Mitchell picked up Richmond’s leading scorer, Britney Shells, and held her in check for the majority of the half.
“Destiny is a great defender,” said Davis after the game. “She’s long, lean and quick and that’s what we need right now.”
Mitchell also set a career high in points with 17.
Richmond tried to climb back in the game in the middle of the second half. Shelly scored eight quick points in just one minute and pulled the Spiders within six.
But that was as close as they would get. The Lady Bucs, led by Davis and senior forward Latisha Belcher, went on a 10-4 run and then a 16-4 run to put the game out of reach.
Latisha Belcher recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Richmond head coach Michael Shafer was disappointed in his team’s loss.
“We allowed East Tennessee State to do exactly what they are good at,” said Shafer. “You can do all the scouting you want but you still have to stop them.”
The game wasn’t all sunshine for the Lady Bucs.
“Thirty turnovers,” Kemp said, shaking her head. “What else do I have to say?”
The Lady Bucs next face Appalachian State Nov. 19 at 7:30 in the ETSU/MSHA Athletics Center.
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