BRISTOL, Tenn. – Regulation was not enough to decide a winner between the Emory & Henry University Women's Basketball Team (1-2) and border rival King (Tenn.) University (1-3) in a non-conference tussle Thursday night. The Tornado outscored the Wasps 11-5 in the overtime period to earn the win by a 76-70 final scoreline.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – King (Tenn.) 76, Emory & Henry 70 (OT)
LOCATION – Bristol, Tennessee
VENUE – Student Center Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-2, 0-0 SAC); King (Tenn.) (1-3, 0-0 Carolinas)
How It Happened
- The teams went back-and-forth to begin the opening quarter of play and a made three-point bucket by junior forward Gracyn Hall (Randleman, N.C.) gave the Wasps an 11-9 lead at the 5:35 mark. The Tornado battled back with an 8-2 run over the next minute and a half to jump ahead 17-13. The squads traded blows down the stretch of the period and back-to-back buckets by junior forward Paige Niethammer (Parrottsville, Tenn.) pushed E&H back into the lead at 23-21 at the end of one.
- It was more of the same to begin the second stanza, as neither team could create any separation from their opponent. A layup by Niethammer gave E&H the 29-28 lead, but King responded immediately with a bucket by Mary Elizabeth Fox to make it 30-29 in favor of the home team with 5:33 remaining in the half. Both squads struggled to score the basketball at the end of the frame, but a pair of jumpers by sophomore guard Lyndie Ramsey (Elizabethton, Tenn.) boosted the Wasps to a narrow 36-35 advantage at the halftime break.
- The Wasps were the aggressors to begin the second half, and back-to-back jumpers from Ramsey and graduate student forward Breanna Yarber (Meadowview, Va.) pushed their lead out to its largest of the game at 41-35. The Tornado had another answer however as they drilled a pair of threes to tie things back up at 41-41. Ramsey continued to be the driving force offensively on the night for E&H as she tallied the next five points for the visitors from Emory, but the Wasps went cold over the last 5:55 of the quarter and King finished on a 9-0 run to take a 50-46 lead into the final stanza.
- The Tornado maintained their lead early in the fourth, until a layup by Niethammer snapped the nine minute and 13 second drought without a made field goal by the Wasps to bring them back within a pair at 53-51 with 6:43 remaining. E&H battled all the way back and another layup by Ramsey at the 4:42 mark retook the lead at 58-57. Emory & Henry extended its advantage back out to three at 63-60, but again the Tornado stormed back with five straight points to nudge back ahead by two with just 41 seconds to play. Yarber came up clutch as she drained a jumper to tie things up and send the game into overtime.
- King took the initiative to begin the extra period, scoring the first four points. Another layup by Yarber cut the deficit to two, but a three by Fox and a trio of free throws from Aliyah Hawkins pushed the Tornado's lead to its largest of the night at 75-67. Sophomore guard Tori West (Richmond, Va.) knocked down a shot from long range, but it was not enough as King snapped a three-game losing streak against the Wasps with the 76-70 victory.
Emory & Henry Leaders
- Ramsey led the Wasps with her first career double-double, posting 22 points, a career-high 12 rebounds, two steals and an assist. Niethammer went for 14 points, three rebounds, one assist and a steal while Yarber finished with 11 points, five boards and a pair of steals.
- Hall had seven points, six rebounds, one blocked shot and an assist. Junior guard Rhyan Harris (Salem, Va.) collected a team-high four assists, three points, two rebounds and a block.
King Individual Leaders
- Hawkins led all scorers with 27 points, four rebounds, two steals and an assist while Le'Aije Ellington collected 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
- Fox recorded a double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals for the Tornado. Samantha Lee registered 10 points, four rebounds and a helper in the win.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry shot 40.0 percent (26-for-65) from the field, hitting eight three-pointers (29.6%). The Wasps went 10-for-16 (62.5%) at the free throw line.
- King made 25-of-65 (38.5%) of their shots and were 13-for-38 (34.2%) from long range. The Tornado made just 59.1 percent (13-of-22) of their free throws.
- King held a narrow 43-42 rebounding advantage, and the squads were dead even with just four second-chance points apiece.
- The Tornado won the turnover battle 22-20, but the Wasps converted more of those opportunities into points by outscoring the home team 17-11 on points off turnovers.
- The Wasps got out in transition, as they held a 26-11 advantage on points scored on the fastbreak.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry hits the road again this Sunday, November 23 when the Wasps travel to take on the Trojans of Trevecca Nazarene University. Tip is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Nashville, Tennessee.
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