Tuesday, November 25, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 25, 2008) - The ETSU and Appalachian State women's basketball programs have played every year since the 1978 season, and on Wednesday night the Lady Bucs and Mountaineers will meet for the 67th time in the series when the ball is tipped  at 7 p.m. inside Memorial Center.

The Lady Buccaneers are searching for their first win of the season after falling on the road at Evansville and Chattanooga, then dropping a tight one to No. 13/12 Vanderbilt on Friday night, 66-55.

Should ETSU snap its three-game skid, it would mark the second time in the last three years the Lady Bucs have tabbed their first win of the year against the Mountaineers. The Lady Bucs also opened the 2006-07 season 0-3 before ending the streak with a 104-87 victory over Appalachian State. In that contest Siarre Evans (Griffin, Ga.) poured in a career-high 29 points, while Devin Thompson (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) chipped in with a career-best 21.

The Mountaineers enter Wednesday's contest with a 1-3 record after picking up their first win Monday night versus Alabama A&M, 65-52. The Mountaineers are led by sophomore guard France Hernandez's 15.5 points per game, and she is coming off a career-high 26-point effort on Monday night. Hernandez also gave the Lady Bucs fits a year ago as she poured in then a career-best 21 points. As a team, Appalachian State has turned the ball over 79 in its last two contests.

Appalachian State leads the all-time series 35-31, but the home team has defended home court advantage over the last two years. Appalachian State won the previous meeting a year ago in Boone, 73-70.

Fans who enter the gates with two or more canned food items will receive $1 admission to Wednesday's contest. Following the game, all the food that was donated will be taken to the Southside Mission by the University Parkway youth group. In addition, tomorrow's game is "Faith and Family Night." A Christian music group will be on hand playing during the game and concert will take place after the game.

Fans unable to make the trip to the Dome can watch the game via ASun.TV by visiting, https://asun.neulion.com/asc/console.jsp. In addition, live stats will also be available by visiting, http://www.etsubucs.com/livestats/wbball/xlive.htm.  

For more information on Lady Buccaneer basketball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.