Monday, January 19, 2009

MACON, Ga. - The ETSU Lady Bucs continued looking strong in their defense of their Atlantic Sun Conference title with a pair of victories against Belmont and Lipscomb. Junior TaRonda Wiles scored 44 points over the two games, helping lift the Lady Bucs into sole possession of first place in the A-Sun standings. The guard's stellar week led to her first career Player of the Week honor, the conference office announced Monday.

Wiles began the week scoring a game-high 18 points in a 64-54 loss at Liberty on Tuesday. Wiles also tallied three assists and tied a season high with four steals. Wiles stepped her game a new level when it mattered most, as she lit up Belmont for a career-high 31 points in the 69-51 defeat of the Bruins on Thursday. The criminal justice major finished 13-of-18 from field (a career mark for field goals made) and grabbed four rebounds and forced three steals. Wiles became the first Lady Buc player to score 30+ points since B.J. Banjo netted 39 against Southeast Missouri State on Dec. 28, 2005. On Saturday, the Danville, Va. native capped the week off with a 13-point, four-assist effort in the 70-51 victory against Lipscomb. Wiles also grabbed three rebounds and tallied two steals.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers:

Chelsea McMillan, USC Upstate (F - Quincy, Fla. - So. - Accounting) - Posted fourth 30-point game in the A-Sun this season with a 31-point, 14-rebound game vs. Lipscomb.

Geami Britt, Campbell (F - Campbellton, Fla. - Jr. - Biology) - Paced Campbell with 18 points off the bench, tying a career high against Jacksonville on Saturday.

Kelsey Jacobson, FGCU (G - Barnesville, Minn. - Fr. - Biology) - Came off the bench and helped the Eagles to a 2-0 record last week. In FGCU's 85-76 OT win at Mercer, Jacobson finished with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting from 3-point range. She hit a clutch 3-pointer, with only 14 seconds remaining in regulation, to send the game into overtime. Then in overtime she knocked in a pair of treys to give the Eagles the win.