East Tennessee State University’s women’s basketball team defeated conference leader Chattanooga in a double-overtime game, winning 91-90 on Saturday. The game took place in Chattanooga and marks ETSU’s highest scoring performance of the season.
With this win, ETSU now has a record of 13-12 overall and 6-4 in the Southern Conference. Chattanooga, who led the conference before this matchup, moves to 16-7 overall and 8-2 in league play.
This is only the second time that ETSU and Chattanooga have played multiple overtime games against each other. In their last such meeting in 2020, Chattanooga won 91-82 in triple overtime. This time, ETSU secured the narrow victory.
Junior guard Daniela Lopez reached her 500th career point during the game with her first three-point shot. She finished with a career-high 28 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 45 minutes—the most by any player in a single game for ETSU this season. Lopez also hit a crucial three-pointer to send the game into double overtime and made the game-winning shot with one second remaining from an inbound pass.
Another key contributor was senior forward Downing, who posted her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Downing recorded nine defensive rebounds and three blocks; her final block prevented Chattanooga from scoring at a critical moment late in regulation.
Nelson scored 18 points for ETSU—most coming from eight free throws—and added three rebounds, one block, and seven assists. Her seven assists are an individual high for any Buccaneers player this season. Nelson also made the inbound pass that set up Lopez’s decisive basket.
Sophomore guard Brown added ten points while extending her streaks for assists and steals across several games. Another sophomore guard contributed seven points along with two rebounds and three assists, making important shots during overtime periods to help secure the win.
ETSU ended with four players reaching double figures in scoring as well as team highs of 32 rebounds, six blocks, four steals, and a season-best of both total points (91) and assists (18). The team shot fifty percent from the field and thirty-five percent from beyond the arc.
After this victory, ETSU stands at four wins and three losses all-time in multiple-overtime contests; against Southern Conference opponents specifically they are now two-and-two.
The Buccaneers will return home for their final regular-season games at Brooks Gym: they face UNC Greensboro on Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by Western Carolina on Saturday at 4 p.m., which will include Senior Day events as well as an alumni game.
