EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Basketball Team (6-6) closed out 2023 facing off against Lees-McRae College (1-8) in a non-conference battle Saturday. The Wasps had 22 assists on 30 made baskets on their way to an 84-76 win over the Bobcats.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 84, Lees-McRae 76
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Bob Johnson Court at the John Rutledge King Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (6-6, 1-3 SAC); Lees-McRae (1-8, 0-4 Carolinas)
How It Happened
- The Wasps got out to a 14-6 lead at the media timeout of the opening period and pushed the margin to 11 (19-8) with 1:52 on the clock. LMC scored six in a row to close the frame to make it a 19-14 contest.
- Early in the second, the two squads traded baskets but Emory & Henry slowly rebuilt its lead to nine at 32-23 with 4:19 to go before the break. Following a scoring drought, the Wasps would lead by as much as 12 on their way to a 36-26 advantage at the intermission.
- E&H scored five of the first eight points coming out of the break to hold a 15-point lead at 43-28, its largest of the day. The Bobcats went on a 13-5 run to get within seven at 48-41 with 4:11 on the clock, but the Wasps responded with seven in a row to push the margin back to double digits at 55-41. Emory & Henry would carry another 10-point lead into the final quarter, 61-51.
- Lees-McRae stormed out with an 11-4 run in the opening 2:33 of the fourth to trim the deficit to just three at 65-62. E&H responded deliberately to the run, going up by as much as 11 in the final minute on its way to the 84-76 victory.
Emory & Henry Leaders
- Junior forward Emma Santoro (King, N.C.) had a team-high 23 points, adding nine rebounds, four steals and three assists while sophomore forward Breanna Yarber (Meadowview, Va.) went for 18 points, seven boards, four blocks and three assists.
- Freshman forward Gracyn Hall (Randleman, N.C.) notched 11 points, going 7-for-7 at the free throw line with six rebounds as junior guard Hannah Spainhour (King, N.C.) posted eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.
- Junior forward Grace Glance (Clyde, N.C.) totaled eight points and four rebounds off the bench with junior guard Mimi Traynham (Richmond, Va.) adding five points, eight assists, and five steals.
Lees-McRae Individual Leaders
- Emily Barr led the Bobcats with 23 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks while Kirsten Watt posted 12 points, five boards and two assists.
- Layla Tillery contributed 11 points, four rebounds and four steals off the bench while Essence Summer tallied 10 points as a reserve.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry shot 44.1 percent (30-for-68) for the game with five made three-pointers. The Wasps went 19-for-26 (73.1%) at the free throw line.
- Lees-McRae hit 26-of-64 (40.6%) of its field goal attempts, connecting on just two triples (18.2%). The Bobcats hit 78.6 percent (22-of-28) of their free throws.
- E&H held a 45-38 rebounding margin, pulling down 13 offensive boards. LMC led, 12-9, on second-chance points, however, taking full advantage of 10 offensive rebounds.
- Both squads scored 44 points in the paint but Emory & Henry notched a 23-16 lead on points off turnovers, as Lees-McRae committed 22 miscues on the afternoon.
- E&H assisted on 73.3 percent (22-of-30) of its baskets while LMC had just 12 assists on 26 buckets (46.2%).
Up Next
- Emory & Henry continues its three-game homestand as it returns to South Atlantic Conference play against Tusculum on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. The contest will be the second game of a doubleheader with the Wasps' and Pioneers' men's teams which will begin at 11:00 a.m.
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