GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 27, 2024) – A strong performance in the fourth quarter lifted UNC Greensboro past the ETSU women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, 54-50. With Saturday's loss, the Buccaneers move to 14-6 overall and 3-2 in SoCon play.
 
A trio of Bucs finished Saturday's contest in double figures. Breanne Beatty led the way with 15 points and five rebounds. All 15 points from Beatty came via a 3-pointer and those five makes from beyond the arc matched a career-high. Nevaeh Brown chipped in 10 points to go with six assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals. Courtney Moore matched Brown with 10 points as well against the Spartans.
 
There was not much separating the Bucs and Spartans in the first 10 minutes. UNCG struggled shooting from 3-point range (0-for-8) so it had to rely heavily on second chances. The Spartans crashed the boards well totaling seven offensive rebounds in the game's first 10 minutes that led to eight points. ETSU, meanwhile, relied on several players to provide some offense. Beatty and Brecken Snotherly both connected on 3-pointers late in the first to give the Bucs a 12-10 lead after one quarter of play.
 
As the game moved to the second quarter, neither team grew a lead of more than one possession. The bulk of ETSU's offensive production in the second came from Spartan miscues. UNCG committed seven turnovers in the frame that led to seven points for the Bucs. ETSU outscored UNCG by one (9-8) in the second and held a three-point lead, 21-18, at the half.
 
Things started to click for the Buccaneers in the third. After scoring 21 points in the first 20 minutes of play, ETSU netted 24 in the third quarter alone. ETSU was a sparkling 9-for-12 from the field and 5-for-7 from 3-point range in the stanza with Beatty scoring nine of her 15 points in the period. Kendall Folley made a layup as time expired to cap a 5-0 run and push ETSU's lead to a game-high 11 points heading to the fourth quarter, 45-34.
 
UNC Greensboro, which is right behind ETSU in terms of scoring defense this season, turned up the pressure on the Bucs to try and mount a comeback. The Spartan defense held the Bucs to 2-for-12 shooting from the field in the quarter. UNCG also held the Bucs scoreless for seven minutes and that was the window it needed to rally. The score became tied at 47 with a little over six minutes to go before the Spartans eventually took the lead for good. ETSU got within one point on a couple of occasions down the stretch but could never tie or pull back in front as UNCG finished off the comeback victory, 54-50.  
 
ETSU will return home for its next game, which will be on Thursday against Furman. Tip-off between the Bucs and Paladins is set for 7 p.m. at Brooks Gym.
 
For more information on Buccaneer women's basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's basketball tab.