ETSU women’s hoops faces first defending champion since 1994

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Nov. 7, 2022) – ETSU women’s basketball started its 2022-23 season with the nation’s top-ranked team, battling defending NCAA national champion South Carolina on its banner and ring ceremony night inside Colonial Life Arena on Monday.

The Bucs scored five early points with a three-pointer from sophomore Courtney Moore (Gainesville, Fla.) and a layup by graduate Jiselle Thomas (Norwalk, Ohio) to tie it up, but the defending champs went on to win 101-31.

Despite the result, ETSU gained valuable experience in its first game against a challenging team under new head coach Brenda Mock Brown. Ten different Bucs logged meaningful minutes in the contest.

The Bucs did the bulk of their scoring in the second half and were led by Thomas with seven points. Freshman Journee McDaniel (New Bern, N.C.) and returning sophomore Aaliyah Vananda (Maryville, Tenn.) chipped in six.

ETSU will seek its first wins with a two-game road swing this coming weekend, beginning at St. Bonaventure on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. The Bucs will ship down from New York to Easton, Pa. two days later to face Lafayette on Sunday, Nov. 13 at noon.

For more information on Buccaneer women’s hoops, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s basketball page.