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3/5/2008 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
ETSU Handles Mercer to Move On to Semifinals
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The top-seeded ETSU Lady Bucs scored the first eight points of their quarterfinal contest with Mercer and never looked back, as they cruised to an 83-62 victory at the General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Basketball Championship Wednesday night.
The Lady Bucs (19-11) dominated from the opening tip, led by their pair of sophomore sensations, Latisha Belcher and Siarre Evans. Both players scored 16 points, and combined to grab 19 rebounds. Evans pulled down 11 boards, and notched a double-double on the night, while Belcher captured eight rebounds and finished the evening with a career-high eight steals.
After building its lead to as much as 18 in the first half, ETSU never allowed the Bears to get closer than nine points as they cruised to the 21-point victory. The Lady Bucs showcased the offensive skill and balance that made them the league's highest scoring team in the regular season, as five players scored in double figures and a sixth, Nichelle Akers, added nine.
Leading 44-33 at the half, the Lady Bucs opened the second half on a 10-3 run, capped by a Belcher steal and lay-up that pushed the pushed the ETSU advantage back to 18 at 52-36. The Lady Bucs never led by fewer than 13 points from there, as Mercer never mounted a legitimate threat to the ETSU lead.
Mercer's LaToya Jackson helped keep the Lady Bucs in sight for most of the evening with a career-high 28-point effort, but just one other Mercer player, Kourtney Carter, joined her in double figures. Mercer ends its difficult season at 4-26.
ETSU advances to the semifinals Friday night and will face either fourth-seeded Belmont or the No. 5 seed, the host Lipscomb Lady Bisons.
