SALEM, Va. – The #1 Emory & Henry College Women's Basketball Team (22-4) erased a seven-point fourth quarter deficit on its way to a 61-57 win over eighth-seeded University of Lynchburg (13-14) in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.
The Wasps saw each of their three seniors reach double figures in points as they advanced to the league semifinals for the fifth time in six years.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 61, Lynchburg 57
LOCATION – Salem, Virginia
VENUE – Salem Civic Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (22-4, 15-3 ODAC); Lynchburg (13-14, 9-9 ODAC)
How It Happened
- The contest featured 13 ties and 15 lead changes and did not see more than a three-point lead until the end of the third period.
- The squads traded baskets back and forth through the opening 20 minutes with the Hornets taking a 13-10 lead at the 39-second mark of the first thanks to a five straight points by Erin Green. E&H senior forward Kara Stafford (Bristol, Tenn.) closed the gap to 13-12 at the end of the period.
- Four in a row early in the second by E&H gave it a 21-19 advantage but the two teams continued to go shot-for-shot. Lynchburg would carry a 30-29 margin into the locker room.
- A three-pointer by senior forward Sydney McKinney (Big Stone Gap, Va.) and a free throw by Stafford put Emory & Henry ahead, 33-30, at the 8:18 mark of the third quarter but Lynchburg closed with four in a row to take a 45-50 lead into the final period.
- The Hornets grabbed their largest advantage of the contest with the first bucket of the fourth frame. Emory & Henry then went on an 11-4 run to tie the contest at 51. Up by a 56-55 margin with 1:33 remaining, the Wasps scored five of the final seven points to come away with the 61-57 victory.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- McKinney and Stafford led the Wasps with 14 points each as McKinney added six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block while Stafford had four boards.
- Senior forward Peyton Williams (Bristol, Va.) went for a double-double, scoring nine of her 13 points in the fourth period, and adding 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- Junior guard Kylea Cooper (Hickory, N.C.) went for nine points, four rebounds and two steals.
Lynchburg Individual Leaders
- Abby Oguich had 13 points four rebounds and four blocks while Green notched 13 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench.
- Lizzie Davis tacked on 12 points, five assists and three rebounds.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry shot just 39 percent (23-for-59) for the game with four three-pointers. The Wasps made 11-of-16 (68.8%) of its free throws.
- Lynchburg went 24-for-59 (40.7%) from the field with five makes from long range. The Hornets only reached the charity stripe nine times, converting for four points (57.1%).
- E&H held a 40-34 rebounding advantage and used 14 offensive boards for a 12-5 lead on second-chance points.
- The Wasps also led 16-5 on points off turnovers, despite committing 13 errors to the Hornets' 14.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry advances to the tournament semifinals on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., to take on #4 Randolph-Macon College.
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