ROANOKE, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Basketball Team (14-5, 8-3 ODAC) assured itself of a winning season Wednesday evening by defeating Hollins University (3-15, 0-11 ODAC) by a 71-48 score in Old Dominion Athletic Conference Action.
The Wasps opened up a 14-3 lead at the 29-second mark of the first period for a 14-5 advantage at the end of the first 10 minutes. HU trimmed the deficit to one point on two occasions during the second quarter but E&H would lead 26-23 at the intermission.
Coming out of the locker room, the two teams traded baskets early for a 31-27 Emory & Henry lead with 7:19 on the clock. Hollins scored the next seven points run over the next 1:44 for their only advantage of the game, 34-31. The Wasps closed the third with an 18-1 run to go up by double digits, 49-35, for the first time since late in the first quarter.
In the fourth quarter, E&H kept the pressure on, extending the run to 27-1 to make the score 58-35 with 8:14 left to play. The Wasps would go on to lead by as much as 28 in the contest (69-41 with 3:02 remaining), coasting to a 71-48 win to remain in sole possession of third place in the ODAC standings.
Emory & Henry freshman guard Taylor Blevins (Abingdon, Va.) put on a clinic in earning her seventh double-double of the season. The rookie went 10-for-13 from the field for 26 points, hitting a pair of three-pointers, and added 15 rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Chloe Harris (Bristol, Va.) had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench for the Wasps while senior forward Tamara Brewster (Morrow, Ga.) added eight points and six boards. Junior guard Asja Jenkins (Richmond, Va.) chipped in eight points, four rebounds and three assists while senior forward Karina Farr (Graham, Wash.) added six points, seven rebounds and five assists.
As a team, E&H shot 49.2 percent (29-for-59) for the game and a torrid 18-for-29 (62.1%) during the second half. The Wasps hit eight three-pointers and assisted on 22 of their 29 made baskets. Emory & Henry won the battle of the boards, 47-32, and led 19-7 on points off turnovers.
Hollins was led by Nikki Valencia's 13 points, four assists and five steals while Sally Sroge pitched in eight points. Three players put up six points for the green-and-gold as Jewellanna Parfitt chipped in 10 rebounds and three assists to her tally. For the game, HU shot just 27.9 percent (17-for-61) hitting six threes.
Emory & Henry will return home on Saturday when it hosts Randolph College at 4:30 p.m. The contest, which will be Senior Day for the Wasps will follow the E&H men's game against Virginia Wesleyan at 2:00 p.m. Join us at 1:40 p.m., for a special ceremony honoring Glenn Roberts, class of 1935, who was an innovator for the sport of basketball.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15