EMORY, Va. – The Mars Hill University Women's Basketball Team (13-14, 7-10 SAC) held off a fourth-quarter rally by Emory & Henry College (10-15, 5-12 SAC) to come away with a 76-69 win in South Atlantic Conference action Wednesday evening.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Mars Hill 76, Emory & Henry 69
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Bob Johnson Court at the John Rutledge King Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (10-15, 5-12 SAC); Mars Hill (13-14, 7-10 SAC)
How It Happened
- The two teams went back and forth early, as the game was tied at nine points apiece with 6:08 in the opening period. MHU scored eight in a row but an 11-2 run covering 3:53 by the Wasps put them up 20-19. The Lions would carry a 24-24 advantage at the end of the quarter.
- Five in a row for Mars Hill pushed the margin to 29-20 in the first 25 seconds of the second frame. E&H quickly closed the gap to two (31-29) but MHU responded to go up by as much as 11 on the way to a 44-34 lead at the intermission.
- Returning to action, E&H saw sophomore forward Breanna Yarber (Meadowview, Va.) score nine in a row and 11 of the first 13 points of the third quarter to close the gap to 46-45 with 7:18 on the clock. A 14-5 run by the Lions later in the frame pushed the margin back to double digits at 65-55 but the Wasps closed with the last five to trail, 65-60, with 10 minutes left to play.
- The majority of the fourth was played within two possessions. Mars Hill led by six (68-62) early, but a 6-1 run by Emory & Henry made it a one-point game with 5:32 to go. Both squads struggled from the field in the closing minutes but the Lions got it done at the free throw line to come away with the 76-69 win.
Emory & Henry Leaders
- Yarber led all players with 34 points on 14-for-23 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. It marked the third time this season that the sophomore has eclipsed the 30-point mark this season.
- Junior guard Mimi Traynham (Richmond, Va.) had 11 points, six assists, and three rebounds while junior forward Emma Santoro (King, N.C.) went for eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Mars Hill Individual Leaders
- T.T. Harris posted a double-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocks while Maddie Gillie went for 22 points, five rebounds and two assists, connecting on five attempts from beyond the three-point arc.
- Jadiya Peoples posted 13 points off the bench as Aaliyah El contributed nine points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry made 40 percent (28-of-70) of its field goals on the evening with eight three-pointers. The Wasps were 5-for-7 (71.4%) from the free throw line.
- Mars Hill shot 26-for-64 (40.6%) for the game with seven triples. The Lions hit 73.9 percent (17-of-23) of their chances from the charity stripe.
- MHU held a 49-37 rebounding advantage and used 17 offensive boards to lead, 16-13, on second-chance points.
- The Lions also edged the Wasps, 34-30, on points in the paint.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry remains at home on Saturday, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne University at 4:30 p.m. as the second game of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader.
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