Nevaeh Brown posts career totals in win over UNCG

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 27, 2023) – Returning to Freedom Hall for the second time this season, the ETSU women’s basketball team sent the home crowd happy with a lopsided 74-54 victory over UNCG on Saturday in Johnson City.

After an 0-3 start to Southern Conference play, the Bucs have turned it on the last two weeks with four straight victories. The program’s last four game win streak in conference play came during the 2017-18 season. Furthermore, ETSU has clinched a winning record for the regular season this week — regardless of the final seven games — with a 17-6 overall record.

The lead changed just twice on Saturday, as Nevaeh Brown (Charlotte, N.C) started the game with a second-chance bucket and UNCG answered with a go-ahead three-pointer. After that, it would be all Bucs as ETSU led for over 37 minutes of game time and stayed ahead comfortably in the second half.

Brown and her graduate teammate Jiselle Thomas (Norwalk, Ohio) were each one rebound away from a double-double. Brown had career-highs in both scoring and rebounding with 19 points and nine rebounds, while adding a team-high four assists. Thomas added 16 points and nine boards.

Reigning SoCon Player of the Week Kendall Folley (Lebanon, Ohio) continued her stretch of high-impact numbers, chipping in 15 points and five rebounds. Sophomore post Jakhyia Davis (Knoxville, Tenn.) had a strong performance in the post despite a tough matchup, adding six points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals.

With the loss, UNCG falls to 10-11 overall and behind ETSU in the conference standings at 3-4. Faith Price was the leading Spartan scorer with 12 points on 4-11 shooting behind the arc.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter: Jakyhia Davis had a put-back layup with 6:44 remaining in the first quarter to give ETSU a 4-3 lead. That lead would remain with the home team, as ETSU went on to a 15-9 quarter lead. Nevaeh Brown had seven of ETSU’s 15 points in the frame.

Second Quarter: The highest scoring quarter of the game came in the second, as ETSU had a 21-19 scoring advantage to extend the lead to 36-28 at the half. UNCG never had a run longer than three points, but still managed to stay within striking distance with occasional answer baskets. Both teams shot over 40 percent at the break. Nevaeh Brown led the Bucs with 13 points and seven boards at the half.

Third Quarter: ETSU continued its run of strong third quarters, outscoring UNCG 17-11 in the frame. Six different players had points for the Bucs, including three-pointers by Journee McDaniel (New Bern, N.C.), Sarah Thompson (Gate City, Va.) and Courtney Moore (Gainesville, Fla.).

Fourth Quarter: Leading 53-39 heading into the final quarter, ETSU coasted the rest of the way with 21 points to pad the lead. Kendall Folley had seven of her 15 points in the final 10:00, while Davis had three rebounds. The Bucs shot 7-12 in the final quarter for 58.3 percent. Additionally, the Bucs did not allow a second chance point in the fourth quarter and had just one turnover in the frame.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• In the last four games, ETSU has outscored opponents 88-40 in the third quarter.

• ETSU had four turnovers in the first quarter, but only had five in the final three quarters combined.

• No ETSU player had more than two turnovers.

• For the fourth time in a row, ETSU shot north of 40 percent. The Bucs finished 27-59 from the floor for 45.8 percent and 14-16 from the free throw line (87.5 percent).

• ETSU has an 11-0 record when shooting over 40 percent and a 14-0 record when outshooting its opponent. UNCG finished 21-62 from the field for just under 34 percent.

• ETSU scored 70+ points for the sixth time this season, including the last two games, and improves to a 6-0 record when doing so.

• Facing a tough rebounding team, the Bucs won the boards with a 41-37 advantage. One of the national leaders in offensive rebounding, UNCG finished with a 15-10 advantage on the offensive boards and a 14-11 advantage in second chance points.

• ETSU had a 34-26 advantage in paint scoring.

• The Bucs are now 8-4 in home games this season, including their first win in Freedom Hall today.

• The Bucs also improve upon their nation-leading win improvement from last season to this season, going from six wins last campaign to 17 this campaign for an 11-win difference.

COMING UP NEXT

ETSU begins the second half of conference play next Saturday with a trip to in-state rival Chattanooga. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m. at McKenzie Arena. 

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