DeLand, Fla. - Senior forward Ashli Jackson (Opelika, Ala.) continued her hot scoring streak with a season high-tying 18 points to lead four Hatters in double figures, but the Stetson women's basketball team (5-19, 5-10 Atlantic Sun) dropped a hard-fought 57-55 decision to visiting ETSU (14-8, 12-2 A-Sun), the two-time defending conference champions. Jackson has scored in double figures six times in Stetson's last seven games.
The Hatters fought back from a 43-36 deficit with 10:23 left in the game to tie the game on a Lyllique Roman (Poinciana, Fla.) free throw with 56 seconds left. ETSU scored what proved to be the game-winning basket 19 seconds later as TaRonda Wiles, the A-Sun's leading scorer, found Tosha Austin underneath the basket for a layup that put the Lady Bucs ahead 56-54. The bucket was Austin's first and only points of the game.
Junior center Natasha Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) grabbed an offensive rebound on Stetson's ensuing possession and was soon fouled, heading to the line with 11 seconds left and a chance to tie the game. Her first free throw swished through, but her second fell off the rim to the right as ETSU forward Siarre Evans pulled down the rebound. Following a clock-stopping foul, Evans made one of two free throws, giving the Hatters one last chance with five seconds left. Junior point guard Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) raced up the court and got a good look at a pull-up jumper in the key, but the shot went wide as the buzzer sounded.
Jackson hit three three-pointers and was 4-4 from inside the arc en route to her second consecutive 18-point effort. She averaged 17 points and six rebounds in Stetson's three games this week. Roman and Graboski scored 12 points each with Graboski tying for the Hatter lead with seven rebounds as well; Brown added 11 points and a game-high five assists. Freshman guard/forward Simone Taylor (Delray Beach, Fla.) tied Graboski with seven rebounds while freshman forward Janelle Mills (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) blocked two shots for the second time this season.
Tara Davis hit four three-pointers, leading ETSU to the win with 23 points and four steals. Evans reached double-double status with 14 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals while Wiles added 10 points and six rebounds.
The Hatters return to action Thursday, making the short trip up I-95 to Jacksonville to take on North Florida. Tip-off from UNF Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The contest can be seen on A-Sun.TV.
