Thursday, February 05, 2009

ATLANTA, Ga. (Feb. 5, 2009) - Junior TaRonda Wiles' (Danville, Va.) play on the court was exceptional in January, and on Thursday afternoon the Lady Buccaneer standout learned she received Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division I National Player of the Month Honorable Mention honors.

Wiles averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 32.5 minutes last month. In those 11 games, Wiles posted an outstanding 45.7 shooting percentage (90-197) and tallied a pair of 30-plus scoring efforts, along with a two 20-plus performances. Wiles finished 13-of-18 from the field en route to a career high 31 points in the 69-51 win over Belmont on Jan. 15, and she also poured in a game high 30 points in the 87-57 win over Campbell on Jan. 22.

"TaRonda really stepped up her game last month and was the key to our success in taking over the top spot in the conference standings," added head coach Karen Kemp. "She is a really versatile athlete and is fun to watch every time she takes the court."  

The Danville, Va. native entered the month of January ranked fifth in the A-Sun in scoring and quickly soared her way to the top, as she is averaging a league-leading 16.2 points per game. Wiles is now looking to become only the fourth Lady Buccaneer player to win a scoring title and the first since Tiffani Mayes claimed the honor in 2004-05. In addition, Wiles is also looking to guide the Lady Bucs to their second straight Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament titles as well.

To go with the honorable mention accolade, Wiles also received her first career A-Sun Player of the Week honors on Jan. 19.

Wiles and the Lady Bucs begin a critical homestand Thursday night when ETSU hosts Stetson at 7 p.m. inside Memorial Center.

For more information on Lady Buccaneer athletics, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.