Shanasa Sanders scored a game-high 22 points and Jama Sharp tied a career-high with 21 points as the Stetson women's basketball team defeated ETSU 71-55 in an Atlantic Sun Conference game Monday night at the MHSA Center.

The Hatters (13-4, 6-0 Atlantic Sun) won their ninth game in a row, one shy of tying the school record, and were victorious for the first time in program history at ETSU.

“I was very pleased, it's good for our program to get that monkey off of our back,” Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said.  “The last two times we've been here we've come real close, and it's been a little bit frustrating.  I'm just happy for our players.” 

Stetson led by 12 at halftime, but ETSU closed the gap to 51-44 with 8:52 to play.  The Hatters then went on a 7-0 run as Sharp hit a three and Sanders converted a fastbreak lay-up to help Stetson pull away for good.

“Overall, I thought the defense was real good, and I thought the rebounding was also good,” Bria said.  “They are probably the best rebounding team in our league and I was pleased to see us get 12 offensive rebounds.  Offensively we were just a little sloppy.”

The Lady Bucs (3-9, 1-4 A-Sun) committed 21 turnovers in the game, and the Hatters converted 19 points off of those turnovers including 10 on the fastbreak.

Sanders scored 15 of her points in the second half and finished with five rebounds and four assists.  Sharp hit 8-of-11 from the field including 3-of-4 from behind the arc.

“They both had great games, and I thought Shanasa was a monster on the glass,” Bria said.  “She best when she plays simple and uses her body and her power.  She did that and was very effective.  Victoria (McGowan) contributed, but she struggled scoring wise, and to have two other players step up for us was huge.”

The Hatters will return home to face Lipscomb at 1 p.m. Saturday.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Notes: ETSU game operations staff were kept busy throughout the game keeping one area of the floor dry near center court.  The roof of the MHSA Athletic Center sprung a light leak after a day of steady rain in Johnson City … The victory moved Stetson into a tie for sixth for the longest active winning streak in the nation (9) … Stetson tied its school record for most wins in a three-year period with 56 … C.J. Coddington played her 50th career game with the Hatters and picked up her third charge (drawn) of the year … Victoria McGowan (10 points) became the eighth player in school history to surpass 1300 career points.