EMORY, Va. – The Averett University Women's Basketball Team (1-0) needed an extra five minutes of play to pull out a 97-90 win over Emory & Henry College (0-1) Tuesday evening in the season opener for both squads. The contest featured five ties and 10 lead changes in what has become expected of a matchup between the Wasps and Cougars.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Averett 97, Emory & Henry 90
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia – Bob Johnson Court at the John Rutledge King Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (0-1, 0-0 ODAC); Averett (1-0, 0-0 USA South)
How It Happened
- The Cougars got out to a 13-4 lead at the 5:37 mark of the first quarter, which would be the largest lead of the game for either squad. E&H pulled to within three and the end of the opening 10 minutes, 21-18, thanks to a 5-0 run which covered 2:01.
- Emory & Henry got its first advantage of the game, 26-23, with 7:25 on the clock in the second period. The lead came as a part of a 15-4 run covering 4:17 to put the Wasps up 33-27. AU would close the gap down to 38-36 at the intermission.
- Averett came out of the break and retook the lead, 47-42, thanks to an 11-4 run over the opening 3:03 of the second half. E&H regained the lead with a 12-1 scoring spurt to go into the fourth period up 54-51.
- The final 10 minutes was a two-possession game the entire way with the Wasps going up 74-69 with 2:23 on the clock. Nine straight points by the Cougars put them ahead 78-74 with 30 seconds remaining but a three-pointer and subsequent foul shot by sophomore guard Tessa Johnston (High Point, N.C.) tied things up at 78 with 26 seconds to go. E&H would have a final attempt to win the game in regulation but the shot was off the mark and five extra minutes of play were in order.
- In the overtime period, the Cougars used a 12-4 run over the first three minutes to lead 90-82. Emory & Henry was able to trim the margin to four (94-90) with 11 seconds remaining but Averett went seven-for-10 from the free throw line in the closing minute to seal the victory.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Sophomore forward Taylor Blevins (Abingdon, Va.) led the Wasps with 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting, pulled down 16 rebounds and added five steals.
- Johnston put up a career-high 18 points off the bench added four rebounds as she shot five-for-nine from the field while senior guard Megan Jacoby (Richmond, Va.) had 15 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal, going six-for-eight from the free throw line.
- Sophomore forward Laken Blackburn (Wilkesboro, N.C.) also tossed in a career-high with 11 points and put up four rebounds and two assists and freshman forward Kara Stafford (Bristol, Tenn.) posted nine points and seven rebounds in her collegiate debut.
Averett Individual Leaders
- Samm Chandler led all players with 27 points and completed her double-double with 17 rebounds, also putting up two assists, six steals and two blocks.
- Brooke Carthon had 20 points and nine rebounds off the bench, hitting 10-of-14 free throws, while Joelle Deese tacked on 14 points and three boards.
- Frida Lundquist went 9-for-10 from the line for 13 points as well for the Cougars.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry shot 41.1 percent (30-for-73) for the game while Averett also hit 30 field goals, shooting 40.5 percent from the field. The two squads were knotted at an even 48 points in the paint while AU held a 19-15 advantage in points off turnovers.
- Free throw shooting proved to be pivotal as the Cougars went 35-for-46 (76.1%) from the line while E&H was just 61.4 percent (27-for-44) from the charity stripe.
- The Wasps led 53-50 on rebounding with a 17-15 margin on offensive boards. E&H translated that into an 11-6 lead on second-chance points.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry will host Sewanee: The University of the South on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.
- It will be the second straight year that the Wasps and Tigers have faced off on the hardwood as E&H won, 71-64, on the Sewanee campus to open last season.
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-photo courtesy of Joey Gass