Sunday, December 27, 2009

Two nationally ranked foes and three conference games challenge ETSU in the next 13 days

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 27, 2009) - The ETSU women's basketball team returns to the hardwood on Monday night, as the Lady Bucs begin a season long five-game road swing with a showdown against the nationally ranked Vanderbilt Commodores inside Memorial Gym. Tip is set for 8 p.m. (Eastern).

ETSU (4-4, 2-0) is coming off a 77-72 victory over Jacksonville on Dec. 21 in Johnson City. The Lady Bucs used clutch free throw shooting to knock off their conference rival, as ETSU shot a season best 90 percent (27-30) - including eight straight in the final minute. Senior Siarre Evans (Griffin, Ga.), who was battling a sore knee in that game, posted her sixth straight double-double after tallying 23 points and 11 rebounds. In addition, Evans finished 10-of-10 from the free throw line to become the fourth player in Lady Buccaneer history to make at least 10 consecutive free throws in a game. Should Evans get the starting nod on Monday night, it would mark her 100th career start at ETSU.

Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is currently ranked 19th by the AP, and the Commodores are coming off an 84-47 victory over Tennessee State on Dec. 20. The Commodores are led by a pair of Second Team All-SEC selections Meredith Marsh and Hannah Tuomi. Marsh leads the team with 14.1 points per game, while Tuomi is averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. Vanderbilt enters Monday's game with a 10-1 record with its lone loss being a 66-60 setback to Bowling Green back on Dec. 4 in Nashville.

Monday marks the fifth meeting between these programs with the series tied at two apiece. Vanderbilt survived a scare last season in Johnson City, as the Commodores knocked off the Lady Bucs, 66-55, on Nov. 21.

To access live video and stats, visit http://vucommodores.cstv.com/ or click on the link above.

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