JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 31, 2020) – As the final month of regular season play roles in, ETSU Women’s Basketball welcomes alumni back to Brooks Gym for a weekend of celebration, reminiscing and rivalry renewal with Chattanooga chugging to town.

ABOUT THE BUCS

Coming off a six-point win against Mercer, a result that broke the Blue and Gold’s eight-game losing streak to the Bears, ETSU was flying high heading into their weekend workout versus Samford.

But the Bulldogs meant business in their Birmingham-based home gym, and after the Buccaneers trailed by just one at the end of the first quarter and were able to manage the final four points of the half, a happening that cut a once-13-point lead to nine at halftime, Samford charged out of the locker room to blow the game open with a 21-point third quarter that would see the Bucs score just seven points.

The final frame would change little, ETSU scoring seven again while the Bulldogs continued to be consistent, eventually doubling up Brittney Ezell’s bunch in a 68-34 final.

Micah Scheetz (Knoxville, Tenn.) extended her double-digit scoring streak to 20 games, notching 10 points as the only Buc in double-figures. Scheetz 20-game span of scoring superiority leaves her tied for second in the country at the Division I level in consecutive double-figure efforts behind only Oklahoma State’s Vivian Gray. On top of Scheetz silver lining, Ti Kimbro (Memphis, Tenn.) led the visitors in rebounding, claiming 10 to log her third game with that amount or more in her first season at ETSU. Jada Craig (Winston-Salem, N.C.) returned to the lineup after missing the majority of the Mercer game with an undisclosed injury, contributing four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

ABOUT THE MOCS

Chattanooga, like ETSU, was off in the midweek, both teams looking to bounce back from a loss.

UTC’s came against the team the Bucs bettered last Thursday, as the Mocs handed Mercer their first Southern Conference win of the season by scoring just 26 combined points between the first, second and fourth quarters. Katie Burrows’ club would get 41 combined points from Bria Dial, Abbey Cornelius and Nakeia Burks, but the rest of the team would find just seven points on three made field goals in 23 attempts.

Overall, Chattanooga is 4-16 in the 2019-20 campaign, with just one non-conference victory to their name. Those lackluster results, though, would give way to three wins in their first four SoCon opportunities, including victories over the two teams projected at the top of the preseason league coaches poll, Furman and Wofford. However, in the two games since, the Mocs have scored just 94 combined points, and are averaging a slim 52 points per game on the season.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday’s meeting between the Bucs and Mocs marks the 86^th time the two teams have met, the most ETSU has played any opponent in its history.

The last time the in-state rivals fought for supremacy was 357 days ago Saturday, the Bucs honoring their supporters with fan appreciation day while also bringing back former managers, trainers, players and coaches for alumni day, as ETSU will do for the same game this year. Those that chose to partake in the celebrations were given a treat, the Bucs leading by as many as 13 en route to a 64-54 final. It was the Blue and Gold’s third win in their last four matchups with the Mocs.

ALUMNI DAY/PINK GAME

Bucs-Mocs represents the penultimate event in ETSU Women’s Basketball’s Alumni Weekend, with team access, a private social and a special gameday gathering to take place leading up to tipoff. More information on the events can be found here.

Saturday is also ETSU’s Pink Game to raise awareness for breast cancer in conjunction with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund: “Our mission is to extend and improve the lives of all women battling cancer by raising money for research and assisting the underserved. Coach Yow believed we could make a greater impact as a collective team. She felt as if basketball coaches, officials, and players not only shared a passion but a community. Her public battle with cancer served as a platform to rally coaches to be a part of one team and against one opponent – cancer.”

To raise awareness, fans are encouraged to wear pink, and pink t-shirts will also be given away courtesy of Pepsi while supplies last. The Bucs official Play4Kay game will be played February 20 against Samford.

The Pink Game t-shirts are in!

Come to Brooks Gym to help us raise awareness for breast cancer tomorrow and receive this free t-shirt presented by Pepsi while supplies last! 1PM tap versus Chattanooga - see you in 24 hours Buc Nation!#BlueCollarGoldStandard pic.twitter.com/dkpJxtNtSF

— ETSU WBB (@ETSU_WBB) January 31, 2020

COVERAGE

The Buccaneer Sports Network will carry the 1 p.m. start, along with a half-hour pregame of the contest, with host Mike Gallagher. Gallagher will look back to the Bucs matchup with Samford, break down the meeting with the Mocs, have a conversation with head coach Brittney Ezell and much more. Listen here.

Saturday’s matinee tip will also be broadcast on the Southern Conference Digital Network, a video stream available here.

To purchase women’s basketball single-game tickets to see this year’s Bucs, ensuring a seat for any of ETSU’s five remaining home games in Brooks Gym, click here.

For more information on ETSU Women’s Basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s basketball page.