Bucs defeat UNC Asheville for first time since 2015

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 17, 2022) – ETSU women’s basketball trailed for just 24 seconds in the first quarter, but a three-pointer by Courtney Moore (Gainesville, Fla.) put ETSU ahead for good in an all-around 64-52 win over UNC Asheville inside Kimmel Arena on Saturday.

Moore led the team with 16 points as ETSU matched a season high in three-point shooting while continuing the winning recipe of rebounding, paint presence and defensive prowess.

Two more Bucs joined Moore with double figures as Sarah Thompson (Gate City, Va.) had a career-high 11 points and Nevaeh Brown (Charlotte, N.C.) finished with 10 points and four assists.

The Bucs improved to a 10-3 record, while UNC Asheville dropped to 4-5.

With over half the season remaining, the 10th victory matches ETSU’s highest win total in five seasons. Furthermore, the 10 non-conference wins are the most for ETSU since the 1983-84 season when it won 11.

The win also snaps a three-game losing skid against UNC Asheville with the first win since 2015. Two of those three losses came at the hands of current ETSU head coach Brenda Mock Brown, who previously spent eight seasons at UNC Asheville and made her first return to Kimmel Arena since taking over the Bucs this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter: With a new-look lineup, the Bucs came out shooting right away with a 5-for-7 showing behind the arc. Meleah Kirtner (Wytheville, Va.) and Courtney Moore got it started with a pair of triples each before the media break, then Sarah Thompson hit one of her own. Six players scored before the quarter break. Neveah Brown had three assists in the frame.

Second Quarter: The signature lockdown defense of ETSU came out in the second quarter, holding UNC Asheville to just six points and 2-13 shooting in the frame. Meanwhile, ETSU scored 10 points in the quarter to extend the lead to double digits. 

Third Quarter: UNC Asheville kept pace in the third quarter in an effort to chip into the lead, outscoring ETSU by a slim 17-16 mark to cut the lead to 10 points. Once again, the ETSU defense played a factor as UNCA shot 3-11 in the third frame, but a perfect 10-10 showing at the line kept hope alive for the home team. Meanwhile, ETSU went 7-8 at the charity stripe in the third quarter to maintain its lead.

Fourth Quarter: ETSU shot 42.5 percent in the final frame and continued the second half theme, maintaining the double-digit lead and keeping UNC Asheville at bay. ETSU also took away a key source of scoring in the fourth quarter, keeping UNCA away from the charity stripe in the final 10 minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• For the second straight game, all players that appeared scored at least one field goal for ETSU: Jiselle Thomas, Courtney Moore, Nevaeh Brown, Jakhyia Davis, Jayla Ruffus-Milner, Jaileyah Cotton, Meleah Kirtner and Sarah Thompson.

• The Bucs shot 38.3 percent with 23-60 shooting from the floor, while the defense held UNC Asheville to 17-59 for 28.8 percent.

• In all 10 wins, ETSU has held the opponent to under 40 percent shooting.

• Both teams attempted the same number of three-pointers, but ETSU had one more than UNCA.

• ETSU is now 10-0 when leading at halftime and 10-0 when outrebounding the opponent.

• ETSU had a 50-31 advantage on the boards, including a 26-13 advantage at the halftime break.

• The Bucs dominated the paint with a 32-16 scoring advantage.

• ETSU trailed 12-11 for all of 24 seconds, then led for over 38 minutes and 96.6 percent of the game.

• ETSU’s largest lead was 16 points at 38-22 in the third quarter.

• ETSU also owns a 19-4 record against UNCA and a 67-38 record against the Big South Conference.

COMING UP NEXT

The Bucs return home to host Longwood on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. inside Brooks Gym. This game will end a three-game stretch against Big South Conference opponents, as ETSU will seek the sweep.

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