Monday, February 10, 2003

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 10, 2003) -- College of Charleston rallied back from a 15-point deficit only to fall at the last second by two points to the Lady Bucs of East Tennessee State, 82-80, in women's basketball action this afternoon from the John Kresse Arena in Charleston, S.C. The win gives the Bucs an 8-14 overall record and a 5-8 Southern Conference record. Charleston falls to 8-14 overall and 3-10 in the SoCon. East Tennessee State stormed out to a 6-0 lead to start the game. The Cougars tied the game at 28-28 before a 15-0 run by the Bucs pushed the lead to 15. East Tennessee State shot 43.2 percent for the half while the Cougars shot 38.5. The College of Charleston hammered at the East Tennessee lead, which was up to 14 with 6:02 left in the game, to tie it at 80-80 with 32 seconds left. Junior forward Lauren Trantham (Asheville, N.C.) made a field goal with four seconds left to take the lead and a last second shot by the Cougars fell just short. East Tennessee State shot 45.8 for the game, while the Cougars shot 39.3. The Bucs out-rebounded Charleston 46-34 and held the edge in turnovers 23-20. Charleston was 11-18 from behind the arc with Rachel King connecting on a career-high six of them. Lady Buc junior guard Kiya Verdell (Hartwell, Ga.) led the Bucs with 25 points and senior forward Misty Copas (Kingsport, Tenn.) had 14 to follow. With 11 points was junior forward Jessica Lonon (Sylvania, Ga.) and at 10 was senior guard Samantha Copeland (Evansville, Tenn.). Leading the Cougar charge was King with 20 points and following with 15 was Wilma Simpson. Jolyn Kemp came away with a career-high 10 points, while Allison Regier's 10 points was also tied a career-high. The Bucs travel to Western Carolina on Sat., Feb. 15th for a 2:00 p.m. contest from the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C.