JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 13, 2024) – In a game that saw 21 lead changes, the ETSU women's basketball team came away with a hard fought 77-71 victory over Mercer on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Gym. Saturday's win improves ETSU's overall record to 13-4 and 2-0 in SoCon play. It marks the first time since 2017-18 that the Bucs have started a conference schedule 2-0.
 
Four different Buccaneers finished the day in double figures. Courtney Moore scored a team-high 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Nevaeh Brown chipped in 14 points of her own, while the duo of Breanne Beatty and Brecken Snotherly added 13 and 12 points, respectively. For Beatty, she reached 1,000 points scored in her collegiate career in the third quarter. Rounding out the statistical leaders for ETSU was Journee McDaniel as she nearly had a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds. As a team, the Bucs made a season-high 19 free throws in the win as well.
 
Mercer scored the first four points of the game on Saturday to put the Bucs in an early hole. However, ETSU battled back to tie the score when a layup from McDaniel tied the score at 11-11. The two teams continued to jostle with the lead for the remainder of the first quarter and the frame ended with Mercer with a one-point lead, 20-19.
 
The second quarter was one of runs. Mercer began the stanza with a 10-0 run to lead the Bucs by 11, 30-19. The Bear lead moved to as many as 12 points, 32-20, before the Bucs began to make their comeback. ETSU answered with a 14-0 run capped by a 3-pointer with Moore to bring the Bucs all the way back and back in front, 34-32. It remained a one possession game when the two teams retired to the locker room, 38-37.
 
As the second half began, the game continued to be tight as no lead was more than four points. ETSU doubled up the Bears on the glass in the third quarter, 12-6. However, Mercer would outscore the Bucs in the third and ETSU found itself down by three, 56-53, after three quarters.
 
Being down in the fourth quarter, ETSU responded with its most complete quarter of the afternoon. The Bucs scored a game-high 24 points in the fourth and held Mercer to 15. ETSU went an impressive 12-for-14 from the free throw line and turned five Mercer turnovers to eight Buccaneer points. It was a one possession game as late as 20 seconds remaining in the regulation. The tandem of Brown and Moore went a combined 6-for-6 from the free throw line to finish off the 77-71 win. ETSU is now 13-4 on the season, which is the same record it had through 17 games last season.
 
ETSU will return to action next Saturday when it visits longtime rival Chattanooga. Tip-off between the Bucs and Mocs is set for 2 p.m.  
 
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.