Johnson City native and former Science Hill High School standout Tianna Tarter chose to attend her hometown university of East Tennessee State.
That decision has paid off.
Tarter has become one of the conference’s most dangerous players in her second season at ETSU, averaging 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Bucs (12-9, 4-2), who host the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women Saturday at 2 p.m. at Brooks Gym.
The 5-foot-6 guard has been even better in conference play, averaging 22.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals a game. With their team down a point in the closing seconds at Mercer on Jan. 23, ETSU coach Brittany Ezell called Tarter’s number, who answered with a crossover, drive and running bank shot to hand the Bears their first loss in Southern Conference play.
The Bucs entered the fourth quarter trailing by nine but outscored Mercer 21-10 in the final period. Tarter had 11 of those points, including the winning three-point play.