The ETSU women knocked off a solid A10 team in Duquesne in Brooks Gym by 81-77. http://www.etsubucs.com/wbasketball/news...cs-in-win/

This was the most fun I've had watching the Lady Bucs since the days of Siarre Evans, TaRonda Wiles and Latisha Belcher. They faced a big Duquesne team with a lot of Eastern European talent (a Fin, an Estonian, a Serb and a Hungarian in the top 8) that could shoot the lights out (they came in averaging .463 from 3 as a team) and really hit the boards (+2.3 rebounding margin coming in) having posted a road win over Pitt 66-53. But maybe a little short in speed and athleticism, as senior guard Tianna Tarter (33 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 steals) and freshman guard Erica Haynes-Overton (21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals) ran rings around them.

As an example of newfound balance: having just seen Tianna Tarter triple teamed the previous possession, with 28 seconds left Raven Dean (9 points) used her newly minted 3 point shot to put the Bucs up by 3, and freshman Alayjah Sherer added a free throw for the final 4 point margin. They even managed to outrebound the bigger Dukes 37-35.

The Bucs have been frustrating to watch the last couple of years, rising and falling on Tianna's hot streaks, with little but the even streakier Shamauria Bridges to help her out. But this years' team, relying heavily on 4 newcomers (freshmen Haynes-Overton and Alayjah Sherer, JUCO Brittany Snowden and Graduate transfer Shy Copney) and several improving oldsters (especially Junior Raven Dean, Senior Malloree Shurr and Junior Sadasia Tipps) has the kind of balance that evens out the low spots and allows the guards to challenge the opposition all over the floor.

Tianna and Erica, the senior and the freshman, are the best pair of guards that I can remember the Lady Bucs fielding on the same team. The speed and athleticism, rebounding, ballhawking defense (they average 3 and 3.6 steals per game respectively) and court smarts is just remarkable. Tianna is doing this with a nose broken just 7 days ago and a plastic mask, and still playing 40 minutes. Erica as a freshman is the best thing since, well, Tianna as a freshman. Boy is it fun to watch them go. As they better incorporate the new players, this group, now 4-1, should just get better.

I think that most basketball fans would really enjoy a trip to Brooks to watch this group.

This team is indeed fun to watch, and Haynes-Overton has the potential to be better than Tianna by the time she is a senior.

Any idea why they quit using the bleachers? I was very disappointed by this, as I thought sitting close to the court on the wooden bleachers was 90% of the charm of Brooks Gym. Now the number of quality available seating is very limited. There are some individual seats on the floor level, but I never saw those seats listed as an option to purchase.

Got me. It does seem like a misguided effort to create a small "elite" seating area - at the expense of the rest of us who used to sit in the wooden bleachers.

If you like that idea, I've got a "middle class" tax cut that you'll just love.

Would be nice if we could find some modern, retractable seating that transitioned down from the upper level seating to the floor. I know that was being looked into, guess they couldn't find anything that would work.

This is an interesting team to watch. Lots of hustle and energy. If we had a little more height inside lookout.

Everthing said about how much fun, improvement and talented the women's basketball team, is all deserving. This team is deserving of support, not just posts on board but butts in seats.

Now for those that are complaining about the bleachers. Obviously those complaining have not bought season tickets or talked to anyone in the athlectic dept. about the non-use of bleachers, if you had, you wouldn't be posting garbage, such as. 'misgiuded efforts', 'elite' seating area and 'middle class',

Excuse me, I am a season ticket holder for women's basketball. And I much preferred the bleacher seating.

(11-19-2017 06:09 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  Any idea why they quit using the bleachers? I was very disappointed by this, as I thought sitting close to the court on the wooden bleachers was 90% of the charm of Brooks Gym. Now the number of quality available seating is very limited. There are some individual seats on the floor level, but I never saw those seats listed as an option to purchase.

New bleachers are part of the upgrade to Brooks. On order and slated to be installed soon.

Yeah, the floor seating is just temporary until the new seating is installed. The new floor is thicker and affected how the old bleachers pulled out. The department didn't want to risk anybody's safety on the wonky bleachers, so new seating was ordered. It just wasn't delivered by the opening game, but should be in place by Michigan State.

Thanks for the update on the seating, and so glad that it isn't a permanent issue. I love Brooks Gym and am excited to see how this team develops over this season. Would be great to see another NIT type year if we don't win the SoCon tournament.

(11-19-2017 08:44 PM)BucDoctor Wrote:  

(11-19-2017 06:09 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  Any idea why they quit using the bleachers? I was very disappointed by this, as I thought sitting close to the court on the wooden bleachers was 90% of the charm of Brooks Gym. Now the number of quality available seating is very limited. There are some individual seats on the floor level, but I never saw those seats listed as an option to purchase.

New bleachers are part of the upgrade to Brooks. On order and slated to be installed soon.

I felt the same way but hadn’t heard a word about new bleachers. Glad to hear that.