JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 10, 2023) – The ETSU women's basketball team played a rare home game at Freedom Hall on Sunday and came away with a 77-42 victory over Lees-McRae. With Sunday's win, the Buccaneers have now won three straight games and improve to 7-3 on the season.
 
ETSU had a trio of players finish the afternoon in double figures. Journee McDaniel led the way with a season-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field to go with 11 rebounds. Nevaeh Brown was also efficient on Sunday (7-of-11) in a 16-point effort. Jakhyia Davis rounded out the leading scorers for the Bucs with 10 points to go with eight rebounds.
 
The Bucs started a little slow on Sunday as they held just a three-point advantage at the first media timeout, 10-7. However, ETSU closed out the opening quarter on a 9-2 run to open a 10-point lead on the Bobcats, 19-9. The Bucs, who shot a shade under 50 percent in the quarter (46.7) had five different players score in the first 10 minutes.
 
ETSU continued to control the game in the second quarter. The Bucs held Lees-McRae to 14.3 percent shooting (2-for-14) from the field in the second that ended with the Bobcats scoring just five points. Most of ETSU's offense in the second quarter came from the free throw line as it went 7-for-8 as a team. With the Buccaneer defense working so well and the team knocking down its free throws, ETSU held a 34-14 lead at the break.
 
When the game resumed for the second half, ETSU kept the pressure on the visiting Bobcats. The Bucs more than doubled up Lees-McRae on the glass (11-5) in the third quarter. Six of ETSU's 11 rebounds were on the offensive side of the ball. Lees-McRae eclipsed its first half point total (15) in the third quarter alone but ETSU grew its lead to as many as 28 points before the third frame wrapped up 54-29 ETSU.
 
ETSU saved its best for last as it went 10-for-15 from the field in the final 10 minutes. McDaniel played a key role in the stellar fourth quarter with nine points on 4-for-4 shooting. Furthermore, 21 of the 23 points that ETSU scored in the final quarter came from players that did not start the game. ETSU led by as many as 35 in the fourth before settling at a 77-42 victory.
 
As a team the Bucs out-rebounded Lees-McRae, 45-21 and totaled 16 steals. ETSU also shot 80 percent from the free throw line (16-for-20) in the game to go with a 34 to eight advantage in points in the paint. The total rebounds, steals along with the 16 made free throws were all new season-highs for ETSU.
 
The Buccaneers will be back in action on Thursday when they welcome UNC Asheville to Brooks Gym. Tip-off for that contest is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
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.