ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – The North Carolina Wesleyan College Women's Basketball Team (2-0) held on down the stretch for a 79-77 win over Emory & Henry College (0-2) in the Jean Edge Classic Sunday afternoon at Everett Gymnasium.
Junior forward Karina Farr (Graham, Wash.), who finished the game with 10 points and 13 rebounds, was one of six players named to the all-classic team.
Emory & Henry and North Carolina Wesleyan went back and forth during the first half as neither team led by more than four points the entire way. With the Battling Bishops up 34-30 with 4:01 go to before the break, the Wasps scored eight straight points for a 38-34 advantage. The two squads traded baskets late for a 40-all tie at the half.
Coming out of the break, NCWC scored 11 of the first 17 points to take a 51-46 lead over the Wasps. The Battling Bishops ran their advantage to nine with 12:07 to go in the game, but the Wasps clawed their way back in to take a 67-62 lead thanks to a 13-4 scoring run that used five minutes of clock.
The final four minutes of the game saw three ties and a lead change as North Carolina Wesleyan was able to come away with the win. Down by four, Emory & Henry junior guard Anna Green (Raleigh, N.C.) hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one with 25 seconds to go but the Wasps were forced to foul.
After a NCWC hit its two free throws, Farr made a layup to put the margin back to one with four seconds remaining. Another free throw with just one second left gave the Battling Bishops the win as the Wasps couldn't get off a final shot.
North Carolina Wesleyan was led by Kenyata Davis, who posted 17 points and eight rebounds while Shekinah Huggins added 10 points, five boards and four assists. Essence Burns and NeTaih Davis each chipped in nine points. The Battling Bishops shot just 33.8 percent (24-for-71) from the field but held a 54-49 rebounding advantage and a 21-10 lead on second-chance points.
Emory & Henry saw five players reach double figures in scoring led by junior forward Tamara Brewster's (Morrow, Ga.) 13-point performance. Senior guard Kristie Langley (Staley, N.C.) added 12 points and six rebounds while Farr went four-for- five from the field for her 10 points. Junior guard Tenesha Connor (Greensboro, N.C.) and junior center Amanda Stanley (Mooresville, N.C.) each had 10 points while Stanley grabbed seven rebounds for the Wasps. Green finished the day with eight points, three rebounds and three assists.
As a team, E&H shot 43.8 percent (28-for-64) from the floor but converted only 16-of-34 (47.1%) of its free throw attempts. The Wasps led 26-16 on points in the paint.
Emory & Henry will play its first home game of the 2014-15 season on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m., when it hosts Warren Wilson College in a non-conference contest.
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-photo courtesy of Ashlie Caldwell, E&H '14