Friday, February 24, 2006

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (February 24, 2006) - The Lady Bucs (16-8, 12-5 A-Sun) will look to close out the 2005-06 on a high note when they face Stetson (8-16, 8-11 A-Sun) on Saturday in Memorial Center.  Senior Day festivities will be held prior to the 2 p.m. tip, honoring senior duo B.J. Banjo (Baltimore, Md.) and Candace Gibson (Warner Robins, Ga.).

About the Game ...

This afternoon's game will feature two of the A-Sun's top scorers in ETSU's B.J. Banjo and Stetson's Nefertiti Walker, who was also the Preseason Player of the Year.  The Lady Bucs are coming off a home win over Mercer on Thursday, while Stetson upped Kennesaw State on the road.  Stetson is currently in position to claim the final spot in the league tournament, while the Lady Bucs, having already secured a bid, sits in third place. Both squads have played well recently, as each club has captured wins in four of the last five outings.

Scouting the Hatters ...

A-Sun Preseason Player of the Year Nefertiti Walker leads Stetson in scoring at 21.3 ppg.  Walker is undoubtably one fo the conference's top shooters, as the senior  nearly perfect at the free-throw line, shooting 91.4 percent on the year.  Janene Maclin is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 6.5 boards a night.  Though last season's recipients of the A-Sun automatic bid have been less than stellar this season, Stetson has picked up several big conference wins, including arguably the season's biggest upset, when the Hatters bested league power Florida Atlantic, 64-63, in overtime.  Since the win over FAU, the Hatters have hit a hot streak, winning four of their last five, and coming into Johnson City on a three-game win streak.

The Series ...

After ETSU's win in DeLand earlier this season, the all-time series stands tied at 1-1.  The Hatter captured the only other meeting, picking up the 74-71 win in December of 1995.  Senior B.J. Banjo posted a game-high 26 points, including a career-best six three pointers, as the Lady Bucs battled to a 61-51 victory over Stetson, on Jan. 26, in Edmunds Center.  After shooting a sizzling 51.9 percent from the field (14-for-27) in the first half, the Lady Bucs cooled off in the second period, mustering only five field goals, but still managed the 10-point win.