PEMBROKE, N.C. –
Aurora Roberts,
MaKayla Smith, and
Jala Holloman all scored in double figures, but it was not enough as No. 8 Emmanuel clinched a 72-57 win over the No. 9 Lees-McRae women's basketball team in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship this evening.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 8 Emmanuel – 72, No. 9 Lees-McRae - 57
LOCATION: English E. Jones Center – Pembroke, North Carolina
RECORDS: No. 8 Emmanuel (10-16), No. 9 Lees-McRae (9-18)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Roberts scored a team-high 14 points to go along with nine rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Smith chipped in 13 points, five assists, and two rebounds.
- Holloman added 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- Malikah Meyers and McKenna Kersat finished with eight and and six points respectively.
- Emmanuel grabbed momentum early with a 7-2 run, but a late rally by the Bobcats cut the lead down to 18-13 after 10 minutes of action.
- After Lees-McRae cut the lead to only three points on multiple occasions, Emmanuel responded with a run of their own to take a 34-25 halftime lead.
- Emmanuel maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the third quarter to hold a 53-40 lead at the final intermission.
- The Bobcats rallied in the final quarter and used a three-point field goal by Holloman to cut the deficit to 62-54 with just over four minutes left to play.
- The Lions made timely baskets down to stretch to clinch the first round victory.
- Emmanuel held a 44-20 edge in points in the painted area, while the Bobcats outscored the Lions 14-13 in second-chance points and 12-10 in bench production.
FOR THE FOES:
- Jeanetta Elder and Sydney Wyatt scored 26 and 21 points respectively to pace the Lions.
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