Emory, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Women’s Basketball Team will host the inaugural Comfort Inn Holiday Tournament this December 29 and 30. This marks the first tournament the women’s team hosted since the 2010-2011 season. Thanks to our gracious sponsor, Comfort Inn, the Wasps are brining three teams in over the holiday break; Alvernia University, Centenary College, and Meredith College. The Wasps won their last game before the tournament on the road vs. Salem. The Wasps hope that 10 point victory will give them momentum for this upcoming tournament. Junior Tamara Brewster is coming off an all-time game in which she had 16 points and 9 rebounds. Both of which are career highs. The Wasps are paced by junior Karina Farr in points (13.4) and rebounds (8.9).  Sophomore Megan Jacoby currently leads the ODAC in assists and steals per game, with 6.0 and 3.2 respectively. Freshman Chloe Harris is coming on strong for the Wasps as well. While starting the last two matchups, Harris has been averaging 11.5 points per game. This season, the Wasps have improved their scoring numbers from 58.5 points a game to 74.4. The Wasps also lead the ODAC in steals with 12.6 per game and overall turnover margin at +7.86. With these numbers, the Wasps will look to keep the inaugural trophy in Emory this holiday season.

Alvernia University is a 4-4 team out of West Chester, Pennsylvania from the Commonwealth Conference. The Crusaders score an average of 66.2 points while giving up 64. The Wasps will look to take advantage of the 16.3 turnovers that the Crusaders commit, if it comes down to the two teams. Alvernia is led in points (14.4) and rebounds (8.4) by 6-2 sophomore center, Tyra Roberts. The team won its last game in overtime vs. Misericordia, so they will look to continue winning in the Comfort Inn Holiday Tournament.

The Cyclones of Centenary College are making their way down to Emory from Hackettstown, New Jersey. The team currently sports a 1-1 record in the Colonial States Athletic Conference and a 2-5 record overall. The Cyclones are a great rebounding team, with an average of 45 a game, thanks in part to 6-0 sophomore Mallory George, who pulls down 9.6 on her own. George also leads the team in scoring with 14.6. This game will be the Wasps first in the tournament.

Meredith College is still searching for their first win on the season. This USA South team from Raleigh, North Carolina has played all ODAC teams thus far in their young season, losing all by an average of 13 points per game. Meredith has three scorers that are averaging double digits this season in sophomore Jessi Hayes (12.8), senior Brittaney Rice (12.5), and junior Kim Hinton (10.2).

The first game will take place between Meredith and Alvernia at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 29. The following game will begin at 8 p.m. between Emory & Henry and Centenary. The consolation game will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, with the championship game following immediately after.   

Please patron Comfort Inn in Abingdon, Virginia off of Exit 14 if you need a room during the tournament. The special Emory & Henry rate is $79 a night. Contact Kate Michel at 276-676-2222 for reservations.

Tournament Leaders

*Stats accurate as of 12/16/14

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