ETSU aims to win four-consecutive games for first time since 2011

MOREHEAD, Ky. (Dec. 14, 2014) – The ETSU women’s basketball team will look to win four-straight games for the first time since 2011 when it takes on the Morehead State Eagles on Monday at noon inside Johnson Arena.

The Bucs (6-4) and Eagles (4-5) will compete in the 10^th all-time meeting between the two schools; a series that MSU leads, 5-4. In the most recent matchup, last season, Morehead topped ETSU, 77-69, in the Bucs’ regular season home opener inside Freedom Hall on Nov. 21, 2013. In the loss, ETSU was paced by 15 points from Chandler Christopher (Greeneville, Tenn.) and a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds from Serena Clark (Stone Mountain, Ga.).

The Blue & Gold of ETSU enters Monday’s contest on the heels of its third-consecutive victory; a 64-49 home triumph over Eastern Kentucky. Finally back in the friendly confines of Brooks Gym for the first time in nearly a month, the Bucs took control in the first half with stout defense and offensive conversions to take a 30-19 lead into halftime. ETSU was then able to stay in control over the course of the second period, only once having its advantage reduced to single digits. The Bucs managed to increase their lead to a game-high 17 points down the stretch of the second half and cruised to a 64-49 victory. In the victory, ETSU was led by 16 points from sophomore guard Shamauria Bridges (Miramar, Fla.) and a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds from redshirt senior forward Destiny Mitchell (Bluffton, Ga.). The Bucs also had a dominant defensive showing in limiting the EKU Colonels to an opponent season low point total (49) and field goal percentage (26%).

Morehead will come into play Monday following snapping a three-game losing skid with a 74-72 home win versus Georgia State on Dec. 7. The Eagles were led in the victory by senior guard Almesha Jones who recorded game-highs of 26 points – 24 of which in the second half --, 10 assists and five steals. Jones is currently MSU’s leading scorer at 16.6 points per game and is joined in double-figures by Shay Steele (14.8 ppg), Eriel McKee (14.2 ppg) and Maiki Viela (10.1 ppg). Morehead is presently 2-1 this season inside Johnson Arena.

ETSU remains as the Southern Conference’s highest-scoring team with 75.3 points per game. The Bucs are also shooting a proficient 45 percent from the field – good for second in the league – and are holding opponents to a SoCon-best 22 percent shooting behind the arc.

Four of ETSU’s five starters are averaging double-figures; highlighted by Bridges’ 15.9 points per contest. Bridges’ points-per-game average ranks fourth-best in the league and her 3.4 three-point makes per game is best in the conference. In addition, Mitchell’s 9.4 rebounds per contest is third in the SoCon and Tianna Tarter’s (Johnson City, Tenn.) 3.8 assists per contest ranks second in the league.

For more information on ETSU women’s basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s hoops link. Season tickets can be purchased here. Follow along with the Bucs on social media with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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