Monday, February 23, 2004

Elon, N.C. (Feb. 23, 2004) -- Highlights were few and far between for the East Tennnessee State women's basketball team Monday night, as the the Lady Bucs' five-game conference winning streak came to a streaking halt. ETSU, which falls to 13-12 overall and 13-6 in the Southern Conference, was defeated 77-65 by Elon from Alumni Gym in Elon, N.C. The Phoenix (16-10, 12-7), who shot just under 50 percent for the game outscored ETSU 42-26 in the paint. Elon center Courtney Nyborg played only 20 minutes due to foul trouble but led her team in scoring with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor, in addition to eight rebounds. The Lady Bucs trailed 31-23 at halftime. They shot 39.1 percent as a team and sent Elon to the free throw line a combined 29 times. The Phoenix capitalized by sinking 23 of their foul shots. Tiffany Mayes (Sumter, S.C.) again pitched in a oouragous performance with 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one blocked shot. Kiya Verdell (Hartwell, Ga.) added 13 points, but struggled with her shot, connecting on just 4-of-18 attempts from the field, including 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. Verdell fouled out late in the second half as did B.J. Banjo (Baltimore, Md.). Banjo finished with nine points and four steals. ETSU will conclude the 2003-04 regular season on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Georgia Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Ga. The 2004 Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championships will be played in Charleston, S.C. March 3-6.