Sunday, December 16, 2001

CINCINNATI, Ohio (Dec. 16, 2001) -- Freshman guard Ashley Reed (Barrackville, W. Va) scored 18 points in her first collegiate start to lead the East Tennessee State Lady Bucs to a 78-72 victory over Troy State in the consolation game in the Active Ankle Bearcat Invitational from the Shoemaker Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Lady Bucs (5-4) played an almost flawless first half, leading at the break, 45-32. ETSU was led by Reed and senior guard Erin Thurman (Hixson, Tenn.) who each scored 11 points. ETSU forced 16 Trojan turnovers in the first stanza, with freshman forward Candace Gibson (Warner Robins, Ga.) leading the team with three steals. There was almost a complete turnaround in the second half as Troy State (3-4) came out shooting the ball well in the second half. The Trojans would trim the Lady Buc lead to as few as three on many occasions in the second half, but ETSU would always counter with a big basket. The Trojans cut ETSU's lead to 75-72 with 57 seconds remaining, but Samantha Copeland (Evansville, Tenn.) would ice the game by scoring the game's final three points on free throws. Reed led ETSU with 18 points on 6-16 shooting, including four three-pointers. Sophomore forward Lauren Trantham (Asheville, N.C.) recorded her third double-double of the season and fourth of her career with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Thurman ended her afternoon with 14 points and five rebounds. Troy State was led by center Thea Herring, who had her thid double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Herring also had four assists and four steals for the Trojans. Guard Laura Schwendeman had a game-high 19 points on 6-10 shooting off the bench for Troy State. The Lady Bucs will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. against Tennessee Tech. The game will be the front end of a doubleheader with the ETSU men's team playing the University of Virginia at Wise at 7:30 p.m.