By Brian T. Smith
Assistant Sports Editor / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: January 5, 2008

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Johnson City, Tenn. – As far as Atlantic Sun conference openers go, ETSU’s was picture perfect.
The Buccaneers ripped through University of South Carolina Upstate and put the game away before the second half had even begun on Saturday afternoon at the Mini-Dome before an announced crowd of 504.
Granted, USCU isn’t top-tier Division I talent. But ETSU coach Karen Kemp knows it’s hard to argue with a 96-55 blowout win.
“Everybody stepped up and did things they normally do and came out really focused and ready to go,” Kemp said. “There are still a lot of kinks and we still have a lot of work to do. But I thought we really pushed the ball down the floor and pulled it back and ran our plays when we needed to.”
Kelly Turman scored a game-high 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Bucs (5-7, 1-0), while Devin Thompson added 12 points and eight rebounds.
Sabrina Treakle, Michele DeVault and Latisha Belcher added 11 points apiece for ETSU, and Belcher grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
Cherale Powell and Kasey Thompson each scored 13 points for the Spartans (4-8, 0-1).
ETSU shot 46.7 percent (35 of 75) from the field and the Bucs outrebounded USCU 56-29.
“I thought we kept our intensity the whole game,” Kemp said. “I think that helped us get so many rebounds and not allow them back in it.”
The Bucs took a 54-19 advantage into halftime and held the Spartans to 18.5 percent (5 of 27) shooting in the first half.
ETSU’s win followed up on a big 73-62 victory over Alabama on Jan. 2.
“It took us a while to get going this year because we’re so young,” Kemp said. “But I think we’re definitely heading in the right direction. All the girls are sticking together and keeping their focus. I think things are going to get better and better.”
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ETSU 96, USCU 55
USCU (4-8, 0-1) – POWELL, Cherale 5-8 3-4 13; THOMPSON, Kasey 5-10 0-0 13; HAWKINS, Courtney 2-9 3-4 9; WYANT, Shanea 2-4 0-0 5; JOHNSON, Ebony 1-5 2-4 4; TRANUM, Tara 2-4 0-0 4; BRADLEY, Courtney 1-6 1-2 3; WESTFIELD, Kelly 1-3 0-0 2; PITMAN, Kimberly 0-4 2-3 2; WHITING, Tiffany 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 19-54 11-18 55.
ETSU (5-7, 1-0)–TURMAN, Kelly 5-10 3-4 14; THOMPSON, Devin 5-8 2-3 12; TREAKLE, Sabrina 4-4 0-0 11; DeVAULT, Michele 4-6 0-0 11; BELCHER, Latisha 4-9 3-5 11; DANIELS, Brittany 3-4 4-6 10; WILES, TaRonda 3-11 2-2 8; AKERS, Nichelle 3-6 1-1 7; NORMAN, Jenny 2-4 2-2 6; McCLELLAND, Brianna 0-3 2-2 2; DAVIS, Tara 1-3 0-0 2; PHILLIPS, Kami 1-7 0-0 2. Totals 35-75 19-25 96.
USCU 19 36—55
ETSU 54 42—96
3-point goals—USCU 6-13 (THOMPSON, Kasey 3-3; HAWKINS, Courtney 2-5; WYANT, Shanea 1-1; BRADLEY, Courtney 0-3; WHITING, Tiffany 0-1); ETSU 7-11
(DeVAULT, Michele 3-5; TREAKLE, Sabrina 3-3; TURMAN, Kelly 1-1; DAVIS, Tara
0-1; PHILLIPS, Kami 0-1). Fouled out—USCU-None; ETSU-None. Rebounds—USCU
29 (PITMAN, Kimberly 7), ETSU 56 (BELCHER, Latisha 12). Assists—USCU 8
(BRADLEY, Courtney 3), ETSU 23 (DAVIS, Tara 7). Total fouls—USCU 17, ETSU
19. Technical fouls—USCU-None, ETSU-None. A-504.