ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The 2021 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick got off to a surprising start Thursday at Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville. No. 8 seed ETSU led almost the entire game and upset top seed Samford 68-61 in the opening game of the quarterfinal round. 
 
The Buccaneers (4-15), who lost their last six games of the regular season and hadn't won a game since Jan. 24, took the lead in the first two minutes of play and never relinquished their advantage. 
 
ETSU led by as much as 13 points in the second half and never let Samford closer than two points in the second half. 
A pair of freshmen led the way for ETSU. Center Jakhyia Davis had 21 points and Carly Hooks added 13. SoCon Player of the Year Andrea Cournoyer led the Bulldogs (14-9) with 31 points but made just 4-of-16 3-point attempts. 
 
Natalie Armstrong added 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds for Samford, which won the regular-season title with an 11-2 league mark. 
 
The Buccaneers, who were 1-10 in regular-season league play, advance to play either No. 4 Wofford or No. 5 UNC Greensboro in Friday's semifinal round.   
 
2021 Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | Asheville, N.C.
 
Thursday, March 4
Game 1 – No. 8 ETSU 68, No. 1 Samford 61
Game 2 – No. 4 Wofford vs. No. 5 UNCG, 2:15 p.m.
Game 3 – No. 2 Mercer vs. No. 7 Western Carolina, 5 p.m.
Game 4 – No. 3 Chattanooga vs. No. 6 Furman, 7:15 p.m.
 
Friday, March 5
Game 5 – No. 8 ETSU vs. Game 2 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 2:15 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 7
Championship Game
Game 7 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 12 p.m.
 
NOTE: All times Eastern. All games to be broadcast on ESPN+, with the championship game also on Nexstar.

- www.SoConSports.com -