Sunday, November 30, 2008

ATHENS, Ga. (Nov. 30, 2008) - Coming off a much-needed victory Wednesday night versus Appalachian State, the ETSU women's basketball team now embarks on a season-long five-game road swing, beginning Monday night when the Lady Bucs face SEC perennial power Georgia. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. inside Stegeman Coliseum.

The Lady Bucs will be tested on this difficult road trip as three of their five opponents have an RPI in the top-85. Georgia (85 RPI) has made the NCAA Tournament in each of its last 14 seasons, while Kentucky (70 RPI) and Wake Forest (43 RPI) are also on tap during this month-long trip. In addition, ETSU opens conference play on the road, with trips to Mercer (Dec. 5) and Kennesaw State (Dec. 18).

The Lady Bucs have played Georgia twice in program history, with the Lady Bulldogs coming out ahead in both meetings. Georgia downed ETSU, 78-51, on Dec. 29, 1999, and the Lady Bulldogs took the first-ever meeting, 96-85, during the 1977-78 season.

ETSU picked up its first win of the year on Wednesday night against former Southern Conference rival Appalachain State, 72-68. The Lady Bucs used pressure defense and clutch free throw shooting to down the Mountaineers, as ETSU forced a season-high 35 turnovers and hit six consecutive free throws in the final minute to overcome a scare from Appalachian State. Junior and Preseason all-Conference selection Siarre Evans (Griffin, Ga.) posted her second straight game with a double-double, finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Georgia enters Monday's contest with a 5-1 record and the Lady Bulldogs are coming off a 75-51 victory over Eastern Washington to claim the Lady Rebel Round-up title in Las Vegas on Saturday. Junior guard Ashley Houts scored a career-high 22 points in the 24-point win, and was named Tournament MVP after averaging 21 points in the two-day tournament. Georgia also brings an 11-game non-conference winning streak into Monday's game versus the Lady Buccaneers.  

Fans unable to make the trip to Athens can listen to all the action live online by visiting, http://www.georgiadogs.com/. Live stats will also be available by clicking the link above.

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