Saturday, October 28, 2006

Johnson City, Tenn. (Oct. 28, 2006) - The ETSU women's basketball team held its annual Blue/Gold Scrimmage Saturday afternoon in Memorial Center.  The Blue squad defeated the Gold team, 64-55, behind solid efforts from freshmen Devin Thompson (Smyrna, Tenn.) and TaRonda Wiles (Danville, Va.), along with junior Michele DeVault (Columbus, Ohio).

After leading by one at the half, the Blue squad went on a 14-0 run to start the second half, taking a 47-32 lead with 12:38 remaining. Jenny Norman's (Peachtree, Ga.) jumper with 5:31 to go pulled the Gold team to within nine, 58-49, but the Blue team answered quickly with four straight points. Both teams combined went 18-19 (94.7 percent) from the free-throw line, with the Blue squad shooting a perfect 12-of-12.

The Blue team had a three players score in double figures, as Thompson poured in a team-high 19 points, DeVault added 16 and Wiles scored 12. Thompson was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, and DeVault finished one rebound shy of a double-double, leading all players with nine.

Freshman Siarre Evans (Griffin, Ga.) led all players with 23 points, including going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field in the first half. Also scoring in double figures for the Gold team were juniors Nichelle Akers (Sumter, S.C.) and Norman.  Akers added 11 points while Norman put in 10.

            The Gold team led 28-20 with 3:06 remaining in the first half, but the Blue squad ended the half with a 13-4 run, to take a 33-32 lead heading into the half. The Blue team led despite being out shot from the field, 48.3 percent (14-29) to 43.8 percent (14-32). The only difference in the half came from the free-throw line, as the Blue team went a perfect 4-for-4.

            The Lady Bucs will open the season at North Carolina (2006 Final Four participant) on Friday, Nov. 10. Following the trip to Chapel Hill, N.C., the Lady Bucs will travel to take on SEC foe South Carolina on Nov. 12. Coach Kemp's Lady Bucs will open their season in Memorial Center on Nov. 17 when they host Davidson.