JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Led by a career-high 18 points from Emmah McAmis, East Tennessee State University women's basketball team defeated West Florida, 73-51, in its season opener Tuesday at Brooks Gymnasium. 

East Tennessee State (1-0) led quickly in the first quarter as a jump shot by Daniela López and SaBreya Monsanto allowed them a 14-5 lead. Free throws and a second-chance layup from Kayla Williams would get West Florida (0-1) within five at 16-11, as a layup by Lucia France 14 seconds later built the Bucs' lead back up to seven at 18-11. A floater with nine seconds remaining cut the Argonauts' deficit back to five as the Bucs led 18-13 at the end of the first frame. 

The Argonauts opened the second frame with a layup and free throws to get within one of the Bucs at 18-17. A 6-0 run from the Buccaneers allowed them to build back their lead to seven at 24-17 at the second frame break. The two teams went back-and-forth until the Argos went on a 6-0 run of their own to get within one at 30-29. A three-point jumper by Jaidyn Harper with 20 seconds remaining allowed the Buccaneers to take a four-point lead at 33-29 headed into halftime. 

The Bucs held the Argos scoreless for the first four minutes of play as the Bucs were able to score 11 in a row to lead by 15 at 44-29. The Argos' drought was ended with a layup by Finley Kennedy with 5:57 remaining in the third. The two teams traded shots, but a jump shot by Sydney-James Desroches and a three-pointer by Emmah McAmis extended the Bucs' lead to 16 at 56-40. Free throws by Desroches and a three-pointer by Lucy Hood with 10 seconds remaining gave the Buccaneers a 61-40 lead headed into the final frame. 

A layup by Monsanto gave the Bucs a 23-point lead at 65-42 less than two minutes into the fourth quarter. ETSU and UWF went back-and-forth, but the Buccaneers eventually led by 24 at 73-49 from a layup by Yanessa Boyd. UWF's Ebba Zalamans would cut its deficit to 22, but the Buccaneers ran away with the 73-51 win for the season-opening victory. 

Up next, the Buccaneers head to Clemson, South Carolina, for a Thursday, Nov. 5 matchup at Clemson. 

THE DIFFERENCE
Turnovers and points off them. The Buccaneers scored 21 points from turnovers compared to their eight. The Bucs also had 10 turnovers compared to UWF's 16. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Emmah McAmis led with her career-high 18 points. 
• Anala Nelson's 12-point performance allowed her to surpass 1,000 career points. 
• McAmis, Nelson, Lucia France (10), and Daniela López (10) each saw double figures. 
• Lucia France had a career-high four blocks. Sydney-James Desroches also had four blocks. 
• France's three steals were also a career-high. Nelson also had three steals. 
• France also led with nine rebounds. 
• Nelson led with three assists. 
• The Bucs outrebounded the Argos 48-40. 
• The Bucs' 48 rebounds were the most by the program since their 48 against Gardner-Webb, Dec. 18, 2025. 

For news and updates on all things ETSU women's basketball, follow the women's basketball team on X (@ETSU_WBB) and Instagram (@etsu_wbb), or check back at ETSUBucs.com.