ATLANTA, Ga. – The Oglethorpe University Women's Basketball Team (3-1) held off a second-half rally by visiting Emory & Henry College (2-3) to win by a 74-59 score Sunday afternoon at Dorough Field House. The setback snapped a two-game winning streak by the Wasps.

The Stormy Petrels jumped out to a 13-2 lead at the 15:23 mark of the first half before the Wasps went on a 7-2 scoring run to cut the deficit to 15-9. Oglethorpe pushed its advantage to 23 points in the first half, leading 38-15 with 5:52 to go before the break. OU would take a 45-26 advantage into the locker room after shooting 45.7 percent (16-for-35) from the field in the first half.

Coming out of the intermission, the Petrels scored 12 of the first 13 points for a 57-27 lead before the Wasps began to fight their way back into the game. Emory & Henry would outscore Oglethorpe, 32-17, in the final 12:14 of the game, but the deficit was too much to overcome.

The Stormy Petrels were led by Emily Buck, who scored a game-high 19 points hitting six-of-eight of her field goal attempts. Ali Bleckley had 12 points and nine rebounds while Ciaira Hughes notched eight points, 17 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Raegan Merryman added nine points and five boards as well for Oglethorpe.

As a team, OU finished the game shooting 26-for-66 (39.4%) as it hit nine shots from long range. The Stormy Petrels held a 54-37 advantage on rebounds which translated to 15 second-chance points. The battle for points in the paint was close with Oglethorpe leading by a slim 34-30 margin.

Emory & Henry was paced by junior guard Anna Green's (Raleigh, N.C.) 12 points while junior forward Karina Farr (Graham, Wash.) had 11 points, six rebounds, two steals and a block. Sophomore guard Megan Jacoby (Richmond, Va.) had seven points, four assists and two steals while freshman guard Chloe Harris (Bristol, Va.) recorded seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals of her own.

The Wasps struggled from the field, connecting on just 31.9 percent (22-for-69) of their field goal attempts and just four-for-21 (19.0%) from beyond the arc. Emory & Henry was nearly perfect from the free throw line, connecting on 11-of-12 attempts (91.7%). E&H turned 21 miscues by the Petrels into 23 points off turnovers.

Emory & Henry will next take the court on Saturday, November 29 when it travels to Harrisonburg, Virginia for its Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener against Eastern Mennonite University. Tipoff between the Wasps and Royals is set for 2:00 p.m.

---E&H---

-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15