Photo Courtesy of Caleb Bowlin

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2023) – The ETSU women's basketball team gave Kentucky all it could handle on Tuesday as both teams opened the 2023-24 season. The Bucs, who led at the half, ultimately fell to the Wildcats by a score of 74-66 in a game played at Transylvania University.
 
Kendall Folley led the charge for the Bucs on Tuesday with 22 points on a 9-for-14 effort from the field to go with five rebounds and five assists. Courtney Moore added 17 points and Nevaeh Brown chipped in 10 more to round out ETSU's scoring leaders. On the glass, Jakhyia Davis grabbed eight rebounds, while Brown added six boards as well.
 
There was not a ton of separation between the Bucs and Wildcats for most of the first quarter. A 6-0 run by Kentucky, however, rapidly grew its one-point lead to a seven-point advantage, 19-12. A layup by Brown in the closing seconds of the first stanza brought the Bucs back within five, 21-16, after one quarter of play.
 
Much like it did several times last season, ETSU clamped down defensively to battle back. The Buccaneers held Kentucky to seven points in the second quarter and doubled up the Wildcats on the scoreboard, 14-7, in the frame. Jaileyah Cotton hit a pair of key 3-pointers to give the Bucs the lead and swing the momentum ETSU's way. The two teams went to the locker room with ETSU leading 30-28.
 
When the second half began, neither team had an issue in finding the bottom of the net. The two teams combined for 42 points in the third quarter alone. The balanced Buccaneer scoring trio of Folley, Moore and Brown combined for 17 of ETSU's 20 points. Kentucky, meanwhile, started to knock down some shots from the field and went 5-for-7 from the free throw line to pull into a tie with the Bucs, 50-50, as the game moved to the fourth quarter.
 
Kentucky scored the first points of the fourth quarter and never trailed again. Trying to keep pace, Folley netted 12 points to keep ETSU within striking distance. However, the Wildcats were efficient from field (58.3 field goal percentage) and attempted 18 free throws in the final 10 minutes. Both of those factors were enough for Kentucky to hold on for the 74-66 win.
 
ETSU will open its home schedule on Saturday when it welcomes Lafayette to Brooks Gym. Tip-off for that game is set for Noon.  To purchase season or single game tickets for ETSU women's basketball, visit ETSUTickets.com or call 423-439-3878.
 
For more information on Buccaneer women's basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's basketball tab.