EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Basketball Team (17-7, 11-4 ODAC) got the go-ahead basket from sophomore forward Taylor Blevins (Abingdon, Va.) with four seconds remaining to earn a 63-61 win over Washington and Lee University (11-12, 7-8 ODAC) Wednesday evening in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action.
The game served as the Wasps' annual Play4Kay Night in support of breast cancer research.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 63, Washington and Lee 61
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia – Bob Johnson Court at the John Rutledge King Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (17-7, 11-4 ODAC); Washington and Lee (11-12, 7-8 ODAC)
How It Happened
- W&L started the game off strong, going up 9-4 at the 6:28 mark of the first period. Emory & Henry rushed back with a 10-3 run to take a 14-12 advantage 4:10 later in the quarter. The squads went back and forth for the final two minutes for a 17-all tie after 10 minutes of action.
- The second frame was played within two possessions either way but the Wasps took a 27-25 lead into the locker room thanks to a layup by freshman guard Brandy Watkins (Bluff City, Tenn.).
- Returning from the intermission, the Generals out-scored the Wasps by a 20-13 margin in the third quarter. A 10-1 run early in the period saw W&L go up by five, 35-30, and later lead 45-39 before E&H hit a free throw to close things out with a 45-40 score going into the fourth.
- The final period featured five ties and three lead changes by itself. With the score tied at 58 and 2:04 on the clock, Emory &Henry hit three of four free throws to go up 61-58 with 23 seconds left. After a Washington and Lee three-point shooter was fouled and converted all three free throws to tie the game at 61-all, the Wasps called their final timeout to set up the last possession.
- Senior guard Megan Jacoby (Richmond, Va.) drove down the right side of the lane with seven seconds remaining and found a wide-open Blevins on the opposite block who laid the game-winner in with four seconds remaining. W&L had a last-ditch effort at a three-quarter court heave, but E&H would escape with the 63-61 win.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Jacoby put up a game-high 23 points, going 11-for-13 from the free throw line and adding four assists, three steals and a block. She was also six-for-nine from the field.
- Blevins added 12 points and five boards while freshman forward Kara Stafford (Bristol, Tenn.) had six points, six rebounds and four steals.
- Freshman forward Sydney McKinney (Big Stone Gap, Va.) pulled down 11 rebounds to lead all players and had two points and two steals while sophomore guard Tessa Johnston (High Point, N.C.) and Watkins added five points each.
Washington and Lee Individual Leaders
- Ailyn Kelly had 21 points, seven rebounds four steals and a block to pace the Generals.
- Taylor Casey hit four three-pointers to help her along to 19 points and two assists while Emma Redding added 11 points and nine rebounds.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry shot 41.2 percent (21-for-51) from the floor and added 20 points (20-for-30) at the free throw line.
- Washington and Lee went 23-for-54 (42.6%) on the evening and hit six three-pointers but only made nine free throws (9-for-12; 75%) in the contest.
- E&H led 35-31 on rebounding and dominated down low, 40-28, on points in the paint.
- Each team scored 17 points of one another's miscues but the Wasps deeper bench and ability to get to the free throw line proved to be key in the fourth quarter comeback.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry will take to the road for its final regular season game of the year Saturday as it visits Virginia Wesleyan College at 2:00 p.m.
- The Wasps defeated the Marlins by an 81-67 margin in Emory on Saturday, January 28.
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