JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 1, 2022) – The ETSU Bucs women’s basketball team continues their strong start to the season following a 44-31 Power 5 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Fresh off a trip to Las Vegas to participate in the UNLV Thanksgiving MTE where the Bucs were knocked into the consolation bracket early by George Washington University but would bounce back and go on to win their next two games and claim the consolation bracket.
The (6-2) start for the Bucs is a great improvement over last season as the team has already equaled their win total from only a season ago when the Bucs ended the year with a record of (6-22). The program has only won six of their first eight games three times in program history, not a bad feat for first year head coach Brenda Mock Brown.
Coach Mock’s hiring came late in the off season but it is not obvious that the head coach is relatively new to the program.
When the Bucs took to the court to take on Vanderbilt, ETSU also celebrated “Heroes Day” and welcomed all first responders with free admission to the game.
Everyone in attendance was in for a treat they may have not expected as the Bucs defense clamped down on the Commodores, holding them to only five points in the first quarter to give the Bucs an 11-5 lead.
The second quarter of play was a little more balanced as both teams equaled nine points, but it was the Bucs that carried their 20-14 lead into the half.
Another even quarter of play saw both teams score 10 points in the third quarter and the Bucs maintained their six point lead heading into the final quarter of play.
The fourth quarter was another great showing for the Bucs defense as they only allowed seven points by Vanderbilt to ETSU’s 14 points scored in the quarter and the team’s offensive efforts helped to seal the 44-31 victory and give the Bucs a (7-2) start to the season.
Led in scoring by guard Nevaeh Brown (Charlotte, N.C.) and her 14 points, the Bucs would also have another player in double digits, Jiselle Thomas (Norwalk, Ohio) added 11 points.
The Bucs were aggressive on the board, out rebounding Vanderbilt 47-38 which would turn into 14 second chance points for the Bucs. Guard Kendall Folley (Lebanon, Ohio) led the team in rebounds with 12, followed closely by center Jakhyia Davis (Knoxville, Tenn.) and her nine rebounds, seven of which were offensive rebounds.
With momentum on their side, the Bucs will play two more home games before hitting the road again.
On Dec. 4, the Bucs will take on the (0-5) UVA-Lynchburg Dragons in Brooks Gym with a scheduled tip-off of 2 p.m.
On Dec. 11 the Bucs will be back in Brooks Gym to face off against a (5-1) Bowling Green Falcons team, that game is also set for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
For more information on the ETSU Bucs women’s basketball team, visit etsubucs.com/wbasketball.
