by John Frierson , Chattanooga Times Free Press

TaRonda Wiles led East Tennessee State's perimeter assault -- the Lady Bucs hit nine 3-pointers in the first half -- and scored a game-high 24 points in an easy 85-61 win in front of 3,518 at the Memorial Center.

The Lady Bucs (1-0), who have won the Atlantic Sun Conference and gone to the NCAA tournament the past two seasons, led by 23 points at halftime and were never threatened the rest of the way. They were in attack mode from the outset and were the more aggressive team from start to finish.

It was the Lady Mocs' worst loss since being trounced 80-53 by Louisville on Nov. 24, 2007.

"We looked like we had not practiced a day. It was embarrassing," UTC coach Wes Moore said.

UTC will have to bounce back quickly because it plays at Austin Peay, the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion, at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Wiles, who scored 27 against UTC last season, went 4-for-4 from 3-point range in the first half and finished 9-for-12 from the floor. Gwen Washington added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Bucs held Shanara Hollinquest, the reigning Southern Conference player of the year, to five first-half points. The senior forward was much more assertive in the second half and finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

"I knew it would be a dangerous game, but I didn't know it would be like this," Moore said.

Lady Mocs senior wing Jenaya Wade-Fray went 5-for-12 from the floor and scored 13 points.

Redshirt freshman forward Michelle Davis had six points (on 2-for-9 shooting) and seven rebounds in her first collegiate game.

The Lady Mocs led 4-0 early, but that was the high point of their evening. Siarre Evans hit a 3 to get ETSU going, and Wiles hit her first 3 soon after. Wade-Fray answered with a 3 of her own to put UTC back up, 7-6, and Wiles responded with another 3 that sparked a 13-2 run from which UTC could never recover.

The Lady Bucs led 49-26 at the break after shooting 18-for-37 from the field and 9-for-16 from 3-point range. The Lady Mocs were 9-of-30 from the field in the opening half and finished 22-for-64, including 4-for-18 on 3s.

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