HICKORY, N.C. – Regulation was not enough to decide a winner between the Emory & Henry University Women's Basketball Team (3-4, 1-1 SAC) and host Lenoir-Rhyne University (4-3, 1-1 SAC) Saturday afternoon. The Wasps led 75-68 with three minutes remaining, but a late Bear rally forced the contest into overtime, where the home team would eventually pull away for the 92-82 victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Lenoir-Rhyne 92, Emory & Henry 82 (OT)
LOCATION – Hickory, North Carolina
VENUE – Shuford Arena
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (3-4, 1-1 SAC); Lenoir-Rhyne (4-3, 1-1 SAC)
How It Happened
- The teams were level at 4-4 early, until a 12-3 rally for the visitors from Emory gave them the 16-7 advantage with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter. The Bears slowly worked at the deficit and managed to pull within a pair at 20-18. A pair of free throws from graduate forward Breanna Yarber (Meadowview, Va.) and a three by sophomore guard Tori West (Richmond, Va.) pushed the Wasps' lead back out to 25-18. LR scored the final four points of the frame to make it 25-22 after one period.
- The score stood at 32-30 at the midpoint of the second, but once again the Wasps rallied with eight straight points to see their lead grow to double digits at 40-30. Lenoir-Rhyne responded and closed the gap to just two at 44-42 with 52 ticks left on the clock. West converted another layup just before the half to give Emory & Henry the 46-42 lead at the break.
- A quick 10-3 run by the homestanding Bears over the opening four minutes of the third quarter saw them take the lead at 52-49 until the Wasps rattled off six consecutive points to leapfrog back into the lead at 55-52 at the 4:34 mark. The two teams went back-and-forth down the stretch of the third and Emory & Henry managed to cling to a narrow 63-62 margin heading into the decisive fourth quarter.
- The Wasps were first out of the gate to begin the fourth as back-to-back threes from junior guard Rhyan Harris (Salem, Va.) and West pushed their lead out to 69-64 with 6:13 to play. Three minutes later, sophomore guard Lyndie Ramsey (Elizabethton, Tenn.) buried a shot from long distance to give the Wasps the 75-68 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. The Bears would finish regulation with a 7-0 run, culminating in a game-typing layup by Lauren Arnold with just five seconds left. West had an opportunity to win the game at the buzzer, but her layup attempt went begging to force the extra period.
- Yarber got things going in overtime with a three to give the Wasps a quick three-point lead, but Lenoir-Rhyne answered back with a 7-0 run to take control at 82-78. Emory & Henry clawed back within two at 84-82, but that was as close as they would get as LR ripped off the final eight points of overtime to take the 92-82 win.
Emory & Henry Leaders
- Harris paced the Wasps with a career-high 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal. West added 17 points, three rebounds and a pair of helpers off of the bench while junior forward Paige Niethammer (Parrottsville, Tenn.) just missed out on a double-double with 16 points, nine rebounds, three steals, two blocked shots and an assist.
- Yarber went for 14 points, seven boards, three blocks and a pair of assists. Ramsey had 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Wasps.
Lenoir-Rhyne Individual Leaders
- Aaliyah El led all scorers with 33 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Arnold posted a double-double with 21 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot.
- Elyseia Brown recorded 11 points, six rebounds, three steals and a block.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry shot 37.5 percent (27-for-72) from the field, hitting eight three-pointers (40.0%). The Wasps went 20-for-22 (90.9%) at the charity stripe.
- Lenoir-Rhyne made 32-of-83 (38.6%) of their shots and was 6-for-26 (23.1%) from long range. The Bears converted 64.7 percent (22-of-34) of their free throws.
- LR held a 59-45 rebounding advantage, and outscored the Wasps 19-10 on second-chance points.
- Lenoir-Rhyne won the turnover battle, forcing 19 compared to committing 13, and took advantage of those mistakes for 22 points off turnovers. E&H converted the 13 LR miscues into just 11 points.
- LR pounded the painted area, outscoring Emory & Henry 50-32 inside.
- The Emory & Henry reserves tallied 25 points compared to just 13 for the Lenoir-Rhyne bench.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry is back in action on Wednesday, December 10 when the Wasps make the short trip to take on Southwest Virginia rival the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as game one of a doubleheader with the men's team.
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