JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennesse State women's basketball (4-7, 0-0 SoCon) captured their fourth win in the 2025 campaign in a come-from-behind victory over UNC Asheville (3-7, 0-0 Big South), 63-53.  The Bucs overcame a 19-point deficit entering the third quarter to overtake the Bulldogs 43-16 in the final two quarters for the win.  The comeback is a season-best performance and pushes the squad to 22-4 all-time against UNC Asheville.

NOTABLES

• Anala Nelson led the Bucs with a career-high 23 points from a career-high 13 free throws on a career-high 17 attempts.  The graduate guard went 4-13 from the field and tacked on six rebounds and the team-high of three assists with one steal.
• Meghan Downing, the senior forward, boasted her third outing of the season with four total blocks with three arriving in the third quarter to turn the tide for the Bucs.  Downing tacked on nine points and 11 rebounds, just shy of a double-double.  
• Freshman guard SaBreya Monsanto carried a heavy contribution with a tied career-high of four steals, six rebounds and eight points.
• Carmen Richardson, the sophomore guard, was the next top contributor with a season-high three steals along with her eight points and one assist.
• Redshirt senior guard Paige Lyons collected six points, going 2-6 from the field and 2-3 from the line with three rebounds and two assists.
• Freshman guard Emmah McAmis posted a solid outing with two steals, four rebounds and six points from going 4-4 at the line for her fourth outing of the season with 100% in free throws.
• The team totaled 63 points, 43 rebounds, seven assists, 11 steals and four blocks.

GAME FLOW
Q1

• A rocky start for the Bucs, falling in the first 20-8, yet winning the points from second chances (5-2) and bench points (4-0).
• Richardson collected two steals in the first as the lead effort, adding on two points.

Q2

• ETSU outpaced UNCA 9-6 in points from turnovers, 2-0 in second chance points and 11-6 in bench points.
• Monsanto was the leader in the second frame with four rebounds and two steals with three points, to be followed by Lyons with six points.

Q3

• The third period showing of the Bucs was fruitful with a 20-point quarter, holding UNC Asheville to just 12 points and outscoring them 10-0 in points from the paint and 13-7 in bench points, shooting 69.2% from the field.
• Downing boasted an impressive three blocks in the third frame with four rebounds.
• Nelson reached double-digit points with 11, going 3-4 from the field and 4-5 from the line with one assist.

Q4

• An impressive scoring run of 17 points in the fourth quarter powered the squad past the Bulldogs 22-4 in the fourth quarter to clear the deficit and secure the victory by 10 points.
• Nelson led with seven points to be followed by Downing with six.  The pair each tallied three rebounds and Nelson added on a steal and an assist while Downing recorded a block.

UP NEXT
The Bucs head to Blacksburg, Va. for the 20th all-time meeting of the Bucs and the Hokies on Sunday, December 14 at 4 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.