Wednesday, December 20, 2000

CONWAY, S.C. - Junior guard Erin Thurman had the game-tying three-point attempt stripped away from her as the final buzzer sounded and Coastal Carolina slipped away with a thrilling 74-71 victory over the Lady Bucs Wednesday night from Kimbel Arena in Conway, S.C.

Coastal Carolina (5-4) led 40-38 after an exciting back and forth first half. There were four ties and two lead changes in the first stanza. Only nine turnovers were committed in the first half, two by the Lady Bucs and seven by Coastal Carolina. Freshman guard Racquel Ellis led ETSU (1-9) in the first half with 11 points on 5-7 shooting. Brooke Weisbrod had 14 points in the first half for the Lady Chanticleers, including a span in which she scored 12 straight Coastal Carolina points.

Weisbrod came out firing again in the second half. The guard went on another tear, this time scoring 14 consecutive Lady Chanticleer points and helping Coastal Carolina to their largest lead of nine points. However the Lady Bucs continued to fight back and cut the lead to as little as one point with :30 remaining. Thurman led the Lady Buc charge with 10 second half points.

For the game, both teams shot 42 percent from the field. From three-point range, the Lady Bucs shot 22 percent (4-16) and the Lady Gamecocks shot 52 percent (11-21). The Lady Bucs committed only nine turnovers, compared to the Lady Chanticleers 17.

The Lady Bucs had four players score in double figures, led by Thurman's 17. Freshman Racquel Ellis (13), junior Misty Copas (12) and freshman Lauren Trantham (10) also scored in double-digits for ETSU. Copas also pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Coastal Carolina was led by Weisbrods 28 points.

The Lady Bucs now break for the holidays and will return to the hardwood on Dec. 30 for their first home game of the season, against Wofford at 7:00 in the Memorial Center.