The ETSU Lady Bucs continued a home stretch and looked to stay perfect for the stretch as they faced off against the USC Upstate Spartans and the Kennesaw State Owls. The Lady Bucs came away with two big Atlantic Sun Conference wins Wednesday over the Spartans, 64-42, and Saturday against the Owls, 85-61.

Against the Spartans, the Lady Bucs looked to turn around from a grinding win against Belmont. Both teams struggled to score early in the game but Destiny Mitchell went coast to coast on a steal, sparking ETSU.

The Spartans looked to answer back but the Lady Bucs’ defense stood strong and held them to 15 points for the half, giving ETSU a 39-15 lead at halftime.

In the second half both teams struggled, but a lay-up by Latisha Belcher gave her her 1000th career point as a Lady Buc and helped ETSU settle into a groove.

ETSU maintained the lead over Upstate but couldn’t close the door due to turnovers, giving the Spartans a chance in the game but the early deficit was too much to overcome giving ETSU the 64-42 victory.

“I wasn’t focusing on the points,” said Belcher, “I just wanted to get the steals and blocks for my team.”

ETSU faced off against the Kennesaw State Owls next. ETSU struggled from the start to score, and to stop the Owls from scoring.

The Owls shot an amazing 45 percent from the field keeping the game close at halftime, with ETSU clinging to a 28-25 lead.

“We come out flat in the first half sometimes,” said Tara Davis. “So we have to work on that before hitting the road again.”

The Lady Bucs were on fire after halftime and never looked back. After making a free throw, Davis joined Belcher in the 1000-point club as ETSU rolled over the Owls, 85-61.

“I don’t know where we were the first half,” said head coach Karen Kemp. “We came out with a lot more intensity in the second half.”

Mitchell, Gwen Washington, Davis, and Jasmine Mcintosh all scored double-figures for the Lady Bucs in both games.

The Lady Bucs look to stay perfect during their home stand as they face the Mercer Bears today at 4:45 p.m. inside the MSHA/ETSU Athletic Complex.

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