EMORY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ADDS KIM COLEMAN TO STAFF

(June 8) - Emory University head women's basketball coach Christy Thomaskutty  has announced that Kim Coleman will be joining the program as assistant coach. Coleman comes to the Eagles after a successful five-year stint as head coach at Milton High School in nearby Alpharetta.  He guided the program to an overall record of 99-43 along with five state playoff appearances.  Under his direction, the Lady Eagles captured the Region 6-AAAAA title in 2006 while finishing that campaign with a 25-4 won-lost mark.

"We are thrilled to have Kim Coleman as part of our staff," said Thomaskutty.  "He has a track record of success and combined with his interpersonal skills and work ethic, he will be a great fit here at Emory."

EMORY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCE 2008-09 AWARD WINNERS  

(Mar. 20) - The Emory women's basketball team has announced its team awards for the 2008-09 season. 

Outstanding Player - Lora Turner (Sr., Florence, AL) - Just one of two players on the team to have started all 25 games ... Led the team in scoring (16.8 ppg), rebounding (6.4 rpg), field goal percentage (.596) and free throws (70) ... Scored in double figures in 23 contests and produced 10 outings of 20 or more points ...  Either led or shared for team scoring honors on 18 occasions including a career-high 29 points against Case Western (Feb. 28) ... Club's top rebounder in 12 games ... Recorded four double-doubles (pts./rebs.) ... Her 59.6 percent mark from the floor established a school seasonal record ... Her total of 419 points represented the fourth-highest seasonal mark in school history ... Closed out her career in third place on the school's all-time scoring list (1,312 pts.) ... Eighth all-time at Emory in rebounding (615) ... Holds down the No. 2 spot on the Eagles' career chart in field goal percentage (.533).

Best Defensive Player - Kendall Boyd (Sr., Eden Prairie, MN) ---  Started all 25 contests and averaged 20.4 minutes per outing ... Recorded steals in 16 games and turned in six efforts of two or more thefts ... Averaged 5.2 points per contest ... Played in a total of 88 games during her career, 34 in a starting capacity.

Rookie of the Year - Sally Peterson (Fr., Calhoun, GA) - Gave the Eagles a boost at the guard spot, playing in 23 games and drawing a pair of starting assignments ... Averaged 11.1 minutes per game ... Scored in 12 contests ... Started at Rochester (Feb. 6) and played a season-long 29 minutes, scoring six points while snaring three rebounds ...  Recorded a season-high seven points in a home game against Carnegie Mellon (Jan. 30) ... Averaged 17.0 minutes over the last seven games of the campaign ... Credited with five steals vs. Huntingdon (Jan. 3).

Coaches Award - Kerry Madison (Sr., Los Angeles, CA) - Saw action in all 25 games, 13 as a starter ... Averaged 18.4 minutes and 3.5 points per game ... Played  a season-long tying 28 minutes and picked up a career-high 18 points against No. 13-ranked Washington University (Feb. 13) ... Team's top rebounder in three games ... Turned in a pair of 10-rebound performances during the during the year (vs. Agnes Scott, Jan. 5, 2009 & Rochester, Feb. 1) ... Finished third on the team in rebounding (4.0 rpg) ... Ended her four-year career by playing in 97 games.

Sixth Player Award - Courtney Von Stein (So., Trafalgar, IN) - Came off the bench in all 25 games ... Averaged 18.3 minutes and 4.4 points per outing ... Scored in 22 games and turned in a pair of double-figure scoring performances ... Career-best 12 points came against Carnegie Mellon (Feb. 8) ... Ranked No. 3 on the club in assists (1.5 apg) ... Knocked down three-point field goals in 14 contests ... Played 20 or more minutes eight times.

Most Improved Player - Keenan Whitesides (Jr.,  Wilmington, NC) - After seeing action in just nine games during the 200-07 season, she played in 24 contests this past year and averaged 9.5 minutes and 4.5 rebounds per outing ... Scored in 17 and pulled down rebounds in 19 games ... Totaled a pair of double-figure scoring efforts including a career-high 14 points against North Carolina Wesleyan (Nov. 21) ... Finished second on the squad with a 49.0 percent mark from the floor (48-of-98) ... Led or shared for team high in rebounding on three occasions.

EMORY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PUTS TWO ON ALL-UAA HONORS LIST

(Mar. 4) - Two members of the 2008-09 Emory University women's basketball squad have been selected to the All-University Athletic Association Team.  The all-league honorees were chosen by the conference coaches.

Leading the way for Emory was senior Lora Turner (Florence, AL) who landed her second straight berth on the first team. The 5-foot-11 Turner led Emory in scoring with a 16.8 points per game average in both overall and conference action, good for the No. 2 position among UAA performers.  In addition, she grabbed a team-high 6.4 rebounds per outing (7th in the UAA) in all games while her 7.3 per-game showing league affairs ranked her sixth on the conference ladder. 

She paced the team and the UAA with a school seasonal record of 59.6 percent mark from the floor (174-of-292) in overall play while her 61.1 percent mark in league contests (99-of-162) also topped the league chart.  One of two Emory players to have started all 25 games, Turner scored in double figures on 23 occasions and produced 10 performances of 20 or more points.  She either led or shared for the team's scoring lead in 18 outings and finished as the club's leading rebounder in 12 games as well.  Career-wise, she registered 10 or more points in 74 of 99 games and came through with 18 contests of 20 or more points.  She finished as the school's No. 3 all-time leading scorer (1,312 pts) and held down the No. 8 spot in rebounding (615) and the No. 2 slot in field goal percentage (.533). Turner becomes just the third player in school history to have earned a pair of first-team berths on the All-UAA Team, joining Mandy Jackson (1993 & 1994) and Alicia Moore (1996, 1997 & 1998).

Junior LeShonda Lillard (Bloomington, IN) was the other Eagle to be recognized with her second straight honorable-mention selection.  The 5-foot-6 Lillard averaged 4.0 assists per game in overall play, good for a first-place tie among UAA cagers, while her mark of 4.2 in conference games topped all players.  She scored in double figures in 13 affairs and her 11.9 points per game average in league contests ranked her eighth on the UAA ladder.  Lillard finished with a team-leading 69 steals, second on the school's seasonal list, and her average of 2.92 thefts per game was fourth among UAA players.  She had steals to her credit in 22 of the 24 contests she saw action in and recorded two or more steals in 20 games.

Emory concluded the season with an overall record of 13-12, 4-10 in UAA action.

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory starts the weekend with an overall ledger of 12-12, 3-10 in the UAA.  The Eagles dropped road games last weekend to Brandeis University, 67-57, and No. 19 New York University, 71-60.

Case comes to town with an overall mark of 10-14, 2-10 in the UAA.  The Spartans dropped road decisions to NYU (74-56) and Brandeis (76-56) last weekend.

SERIES RECORDS - CWRU holds an 18-12 lead in the all-time series with Emory that started in December of 1988.  The Spartans have captured the last three games between the schools including a 90-66 victory earlier this season in Cleveland.  Each squad has recorded seven wins in contests played on Emory's home court.

LILLARD A FORCE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT -  Junior LeShonda Lillard opened last weekend by tying Lora Turner for team scoring honors with 17 point against Brandeis before notching a team-best 13 points on Sunday against NYU.  Her efforts against the Judges and Violets boosted her total to 12 games of double-digit point production this year.  Her 11.3 points per-game scoring average places her second on the team and 11th among UAA players.  In addition, she doled out five assists in each game, increasing her '08-09 total to 89, just three shy of tying for 10th place on the school's seasonal chart.  Heading into the final game of the season, her 3.9 per-game average in assists stands third among league cagers.

Defensively, Lillard has chalked up 66 steals this year, good for the No. 2 spot on the Eagles' seasonal chart. Her 2.9 per-game effort in that category places her fourth in the UAA.  Career-wise, Lillard ranks prominently on Emory's all-time list in steals with her mark of 123 placing her seventh.  She is two shy from tying Christie Howard (1996-200) for the sixth spot.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

TURNER TALES - Senior Lora Turner put together a pair of strong outings last weekend, coming through with back-to-back double doubles. Against Brandeis, the 5-foot-11 Turner registered 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds before tallying 10 points and 11 boards against NYU.   She has three straight double-doubles to her credit and four on the year.  She is the first Eagle to chalk up three consecutive double-doubles since Stephanie Seibert closed out the 2003-04 campaign with three straight. Lora will enter her final collegiate game with a total of 11 double-doubles.

Turner is averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game, good for the No. 2 spot on the UAA list. In conference affairs, she is tossing in 15.8 points per effort, also good for second place in the league.  She owns 22 games of double-figure scoring this season and has nine outings of 20 or more points to her credit.  Scoring in double digits is nothing new to the 5-foot-11 Turner as she has totaled 10 or more points in 73 of 98 career contests.

As a compliment to her scoring numbers, Turner has converted 50 percent or better from the field in 17 games and her 58.5 percent mark from the floor paces both the club and the UAA. 

Turner, the owner of 17 performances of 20 or more points during her Emory tenure, has produced a career total of 1,283 points heading into this weekend, good for third place on the school's all-time list.  In addition, her 608 career rebounds is good for the No. 8 spot on the Eagles' all-time chart.  

SENIORS FAREWELL - In addition to Turner suiting up for the last time in an Emory uniform,  a total of five other seniors will be recognized prior to Saturday's game.  They are Kendall Boyd (Eden Prairie, MN); Jenny Kraus (Ann Arbor, MI), Kerry Madison (Los Angeles, CA), Erica Kaplan (Commack, NY) and manager Patrice Entenman (Seattle, WA). 

Kerry Madison -- Has played in a total of 96 games during her career, 41 as a starter ...  Either led or shared for the team's rebounding lead a total of 10 times including three occasions during the 2008-09 campaign ... Earlier this season, she registered a career-high 18 points against Washington University.

Jenny Kraus - Has appeared in 72 career games and recorded 14 double-figure scoring contests, eight of which have come this season ... The 2008-09 campaign has seen her average a career best 7.7 points per game while knocking down 25 three-point field goals  ... Came through with a career-high 23 points earlier this year in a game against the University of Chicago ... Stands 12th on the school's all-time list with 50 three-point field goals.

Kendall Boyd - Has taken to the court in 87 games during her career, 33 as a starter ... Owns eight outings of double-figure scoring, four of those coming this season ... Earlier this year in a game against Baruch College, she notched a career-high 24 points in an 88-80 win ... Is tied for the No. 9 spot on the school's all-time list with 68 three-point field goals and is fourth in three-point field goal percentage.

Erica Kaplan - Was inactive during the 2008-09 season ... During her three seasons with the program, she played in 74 games, 62 as a starter ... Holds down the No. 4 position on the school's all-time chart with 102 three-point field goals ... No. 2 at Emory in career three-point field goal percentage ... Recorded a total of 32 career outings of double-figure scoring.

NOTES -  Sophomore Liz Brandt gave the Eagles a productive 11-minute stint off the bench in the NYU game, scoring a career-high eight points while grabbing three rebounds ...  Senior Jenny Kraus picked up 12 points against NYU, her eighth double-figure scoring performance this season ... Kraus shot 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the floor, including 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from three-point range, in last weekend's action ... In her last three efforts, she is averaging 10.0 points per game ... The Eagles have 13 games of double-digit steals this season and rank No. 1 among UAA teams in that department (10.2 spg) ... Emory has a team total of 245 steals this season, tying the sixth-highest mark in school history ... Emory has outshot 10 opponents from the floor and are 9-1 in those affairs ... The Eagles stand 10-5 when turning the ball over on fewer occasions than their opponents ... Junior Whitney Martin is averaging 6.3 rebounds per contest, second on the squad and good for an eighth-place deadlock among UAA players ... Martin has snatched six or more rebounds in 15 contests this year and has either led or shared for team honors in that department on 10 occasions in '08-09 ... Martin also leads the team with 28 blocked shots, second on Emory's seasonal listing ... Emory has outrebounded foes in seven games this season and owns a 7-0 mark in those contests ... The Eagles are 13-0 during Thomaskutty's tenure as head coach when scoring 80 or more points ... In overall games, Emory is No. 2 in the UAA in scoring offense (70.0 ppg) and No. 3 in field goal percentage (.418).

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory starts the weekend with an overall ledger of 12-10, 3-8 in the UAA.  The Eagles dropped home games last weekend to No. 13 Washington University (91-55) and the University of Chicago (67-61).

Brandeis, ranked 26th nationally by D3hoops.com, meets the Eagles with an overall effort of 15-6, 5-6 in the UAA.  The Judges were victorious in road contests last weekend at Carnegie Mellon (71-49) and Rochester (52-50).

NYU, ranked 19th nationally in the USA Today ESPN Coaches' Poll and 22nd by D3hoops.com,  hosts Case Western on Friday with an 18-4 overall record, 7-4 in the conference.  The Violets lost at Rochester (64-45) before registering a 62-54 win over Carnegie Mellon last weekend.

SERIES RECORDS - NYU holds a 31-9 lead in the all-time series with Emory that started in January of 1989.  The Violets captured the initial meeting of this year, 66-59, in Atlanta. NYU has enjoyed success against Emory in games played on its home floor, capturing 16 of 19 games against the Eagles.

In a series that has its origins in 1989,  Emory holds a slim 21-19 advantage against Brandeis.  Behind 26 points from LeShonda Lillard and eight rebounds by Whitney Martin, the Eagles came away with a 69-56 triumph at the Woodruff PE Center in the first meeting this season.  The Judges have won 10 of 19 games against Emory in contests played on their home floor.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

LILLARD A FORCE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT -  After seeing her steals streak snapped at 19 consecutive games following the Wash U. contest, junior LeShonda Lillard registered four thefts against Chicago, her 19th performance of two or more steals this season. In the process, she moved into second place on the school's seasonal list with 65 steals, behind only Amy Carter's standard of 78 set during the 1994-95 campaign.

Career-wise, Lillard ranks prominently on Emory's career ladder in steals with her mark of 122 placing her seventh.  She is three shy from tying Christie Howard (1996-200) for the sixth spot.

Among UAA cagers, Lillard is second in steals in overall play (3.1 spg) and second in league contests (2.9 spg).

On the offensive end of the floor, her 11.0 points per game average is good for the No. 2 spot on the club and 11th among UAA players.  She has scored in double figures on 10 occasions this year and has 24 career contests of 10 or more points to her credit.

TURNER TALES - After being held to a season-low five points in the Washington University game, senior Lora Turner bounced back with a season-high 25 points along with 10 rebounds against the University of Chicago, her second double-double of the year.  Turner sank 11-of-17 from the floor (her third game of 10 or more field goals this year) and three-of-four from the charity stripe en route to her 20th double-figure scoring effort of the year and ninth of 20 or more points.  Scoring in double digits is nothing new to the 5-foot-11 Turner as she has totaled 10 or more points in 71 of 96 career contests.

Heading into the weekend, Turner holds down the top spot on the team with a 16.5 points per-game average, good for the No. 2 spot on the UAA chart.  In conference games, she is tossing in 16.3 points, also good for second place.  Lora has converted 50 percent or better from the field in 16 games and her 59.1 percent mark from the floor paces both the club and the UAA. 

Turner, the owner of 17 performances of 20 or more points during her Emory tenure, has produced a career total of 1,256 points heading into this weekend, good for fourth place on the school's all-time list.  In addition, her 587 career rebounds is good for the No. 9 spot on the Eagles' all-time chart. 

NOTES -  Senior Kerry Madison totaled a career-high 18 points in the Wash U. game, her first double-figure scoring effort of the season and third of her career ...  Madison sank six-of-seven from the floor, including both of her three-point attempts, and all four of her free throw opportunities against the Bears ... The Eagles have 13 games of double-digit steals this season and rank No. 2 among UAA teams in that department (10.6 spg) ... Emory has a team total of 233 steals this season, the eighth-highest mark in school history ... Senior Kendall Boyd resides in 10th place on Emory's career ladder with 67 three-point field goals ... Emory has outshot 10 opponents from the floor and are 9-1 in those affairs ... The Eagles stand 10-4 when turning the ball over on fewer occasions than their opponents ... Junior Whitney Martin is averaging a team-high 6.5 rebounds per contest, good for sixth place among UAA players ... Martin has snatched six or more rebounds in 14 contests this year and has either led or shared for team honors in that department on 10 occasions in '08-09 ... Freshman Melissa Koike registered 12 minutes of action, her second-longest outing of the year, and came up with a season-high six points in the Chicago contest ... Emory has outrebounded foes in seven games this season and owns a 7-0 mark in those contests ...The Eagles are 13-0 during Thomaskutty's tenure as head coach when scoring 80 or more points ... In overall games, Emory is No. 2 in the UAA in scoring offense (71.1 ppg) No. 3 in field goal percentage (.423).

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory checks in with an overall ledger of 12-8, 3-6 in the UAA.  The Eagles split a pair of road games last weekend, dropping an 80-72 outcome to No. 3-ranked Rochester on Friday before regrouping to notch an 80-65 triumph over Carnegie Mellon on Sunday.  Emory has won nine of 11 games on their home floor this season.

Wash U., ranked 13th nationally by D3hoops.com, invades Atlanta with a five-game winning streak that has boosted its overall mark of 16-4. The Bears are tied with Rochester for the top spot in the league with an 8-1 showing and are coming off wins against New York University (68-47) and Brandeis (71-56) last weekend.

Chicago will meet Case with an overall slate of 14-6, 5-4 in the UAA.  The Maroons split a pair of home affairs last weekend, defeating Brandeis, 63-50, on Friday before coming up short against NYU, 72-54, on Sunday.

SERIES RECORDS - In a series that has its origins in 1989, Wash U.,  claims a 35-5 advantage against Emory.  The Bears won the initial game earlier this season by a 77-50 margin in Saint Louis.   

Chicago holds a 25-15 lead in the all-time series with Emory that started in February of 1989.  The Maroons have won eight of the last nine contests between the schools including a 78-67 decision on Jan. 16.   In games played on Emory's home court, Chicago has captured 12 of 20 meetings against the Eagles.  

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

LILLARD A FORCE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT -  After missing the Rochester game with an injury, junior LeShonda Lillard made her presence felt in the Carnegie Mellon game as she came off the bench to score 17 points, tying her second highest total of the season,  while racking up a personal high of seven steals, her 18th outing of two or more thefts in 19 games this year.  Her seven steals tied for the fourth highest single-game mark in school history and upped her season total to 61, good for the No. 4 spot on the Eagles' seasonal ladder. 

Lillard ranks prominently on Emory's career ladder in that department with her 118 steals placing her eighth.  She is two from tying Allison Reopel (1999-01, 02-03) for seventh place and seven from tying Christie Howard (1996-200) for the sixth spot.

Among UAA cagers, Lillard is second in steals in overall play (3.2 spg) and third in league contests (3.1 spg).

On the offensive end of the floor, her 11.2 points per game average is good for the No. 2 spot on the club and 11th among UAA players.  She has scored in double figures on 10 occasions this year and has 24 career contests of 10 or more points to her credit. In addition, she holds down the No. 3 slot in the UAA in assists (3.9 apg).

TURNER TALES - Senior Lora Turner earned UAA Player of the Week honors after averaging 22.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in the two games over the weekend.  The 5-foot-11 Turner sank 20-of-26 from the floor (.769) and in the process raised her field goal shooting to 59.1 percent, tops among UAA cagers.  Turner has been a model of consistency all season, posting double-figure scoring in 19 outings and racking up eight efforts of 20 or more points.   During her career, she has double-digit point production in 70 of 94 contests.

Turner holds down the top spot on the team with a 16.7 points per-game average, good for the No. 2 spot on the UAA chart.  In conference games, she is tossing in 16.6 points, also good for second place.  Lora has converted 50 percent or better from the field in 15 games and is knocking down 61.1 percent (33-of-54) of her attempts in the last four contests.

Turner, the owner of 16 performances of 20 or more points during her Emory tenure, has produced a career total of 1,226 points heading into this weekend, good for fourth place on the school 's all-time list.  
NOTES - Emory's 80-65 win over Carnegie Mellon raised Coach Thomaskutty's record to 13-0 when scoring 80 or more points in a game (6-0 in '08-09) ... Junior Keenan Whitesides gave the team a boost off the bench against Rochester with 12 points, her second-highest career total, three boards and two blocked shots in 15 minutes of play ... Whitesides has scored in 15 of 19 appearances this season ... Emory finished the Carnegie Mellon contest with 19 steals, tying the school's single-game mark for most thefts in a conference game ...The Eagles have 12 games of double-digit steals this season and rank No. 2 among UAA teams in that department (10.9 spg) ... Sophomore Courtney Von Stein totaled a career-high 12 points against Carnegie Mellon, her second performance of double-figure scoring this season ... Junior Whitney Martin averaged 6.0 rebounds in the two games over the weekend and still stands first on the club with a 6.7 per-game mark, good for sixth place among UAA players ... Martin has snatched six or more rebounds in 14 contests this year ... Emory has turned the ball over more than the opposition in just five games (0-5) this season ... The Eagles stand 10-3 when turning the ball over on fewer occasions than their opponents ... Emory has outshot 10 opponents from the floor and are 9-1 in those affairs ... Emory has outrebounded foes in seven games this season and owns a 7-0 mark in those contests ... The Eagles are tossing in 79.1 points and shooting 45.0 percent from the field in their 12 wins while averaging 62.4 points and 39.0 percent from the floor in the eight setbacks ... In overall games, Emory is No. 2 in the UAA in scoring offense (72.4 ppg) No. 1 in field goal percentage (.427).

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

In his 10th campaign as head coach at Rochester is Jim Scheible (Clarkson, 1988).  He has guided the Yellowjackets to NCAA Final Four appearances in 2003 and 2004. Prior to coming to Rochester, Scheible coached at Elmira College for seven seasons. 

Gerri Seidl (Pittsburgh, 1978) is in her 25th season as the head coach at Carnegie Mellon and has compiled a school and career won-lost effort of 264-344. 

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory has compiled an overall record of 11-7, 2-5 in the UAA.  The Eagles split a pair of home games last weekend, topping Carnegie Mellon by a 78-73 decision before falling to then No. 5 Rochester by a 63-49 margin.

Rochester, ranked 3th by D3hoops.com, takes on Emory with an overall slate of 17-1 (6-1 UAA).  Before playing at Emory last Sunday, the Yellowjackets came away with a 63-51 triumph at Case Western.  UR's lone setback in conference play came against the University of Chicago on Jan. 25.

Before entertaining Emory, Carnegie Mellon will play Case Western in hopes of improving upon its overall record of 5-13 (0-7 UAA). 

SERIES RECORDS - In a series that has its origins in 1989, Rochester claims a 22-18 advantage against Emory.  The Yellowjackets have won 12 of 18 games played against Emory on their home floor.

Emory holds a 25-15 lead in the all-time series with Carnegie Mellon that started in December of 1988.  The Eagles have won 10 of the last 11 contests between the schools.  In games played on CMU's home court, the Tartans have captured 10 of 19 meetings against Emory.  

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

LILLARD MOVES UP EMORY'S SEASON AND CAREER STEALS CHART - Junior LeShoda Lillard posted two steals against Carnegie Mellon before being credited with three thefts against Rochester, giving her two or more steals in 17 of Emory's 18 games.  Lillard has 54 steals this year and is tied with Amy Carter (1993-94) for sixth place on the Eagles' seasonal listing.  Lillard ranks prominently on Emory's career ladder in that department with her 111 steals ranking her 10th.  She is four from tying Sally Goldberg (1996-99) for ninth place and five from tying Nytasha Thomas (1991-95) for the eighth spot.

Among UAA cagers, Lillard is third in steals in both overall (3.0 spg) and league contests (2.6 spg).

TURNER TALES - Senior Lora Turner opened last weekend with a game-high 19 point effort against Carnegie Mellon before registering a team-best 13 points against Rochester.  Turner has chalked up double-figure scoring in 17 games this year including six of 20 or more points.  During her career, she has double-digit point production in 68 of 92 contests.

Turner holds down the top spot on the team with a 16.0 points per-game average, good for the No. 2 spot on the UAA chart.  In conference games, she is tossing in 14.9 points, also good for second place.  The 5-foot-11 Turner tops the UAA with a 56.9 percent (119-of-209) showing from the floor in overall play. She has converted 50 percent or better from the field in 13 games and is knocking down 55.3 percent (31-of-56) of her attempts in the last five games.

Turner, the owner of 14 career efforts of 20 or more points, has produced a career total of 1,181 points heading into this weekend, good for fifth place on Emory's all-time list.  

NOTES - Senior Kerry Madison crashed the boards to the tune of a team-high 10 rebounds against Rochester, her second performance of double-figure caroms this year ... Madison has either led or shared for the team's rebound lead in three games ... Junior Whitney Martin recorded a season-high 14 points and paced the Eagles with nine rebounds in the win over Carnegie Mellon ... Martin followed that effort with eight points and eight boards against Rochester ... Martin is averaging 8.3 rebounds over her last four contests and she stands sixth in the UAA with a season average of 6.7 per game ...  LeShonda Lillard's 12 points against Carnegie Mellon was her ninth outing of double-figure scoring this year ... Lillard is doling out 4.0 assists per game in overall action, second among UAA players ... She has led or shared for team honors in that statistic in 13 contests this year ... Freshman Sally Peterson came off the bench and chipped in a season-high seven points in 17 minutes of action in the Carnegie Mellon game ...  The Eagles are tossing in 79.0 points and shooting 45.1 percent from the field in their 11 wins while averaging 61.0 points and 38.1 percent from the floor in the seven setbacks ... Emory has 11 games of 10 or more steals this year and stands tied for the  No. 2 position in the UAA in that department (10.6 spg) ... The Eagles have outshot nine opponents from the floor and are 9-0 those affairs ... Emory has outrebounded foes in seven games this season and owns a 7-0 mark in those contests ... In overall games, Emory is No. 2 in the UAA in scoring offense (72.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (.424).

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

EMORY TO "THINK PINK" DURING WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME vs. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

(Jan. 30) - Emory University will "THINK PINK" on Sunday, Feb. 15 when the Eagles' women's basketball team hosts the University of Chicago starting at 2:00 p.m. 

As part of the THINK PINK campaign, fans attending the game are asked to wear pink to show support in the fight against breast cancer.  Those in attendance will receive free Emory Eagles Think Pink shirt (as supplies last).  Other festivities will include free food, giveaways and entertainment. At half-time, families that have been affected by the disease as well as breast cancer survivors will be recognized.  The Emory athletic department will make a donation to both the Winship Cancer Institute and the Emory School of Medicine to assist in their cutting-edge technology in the battle against the dreaded disease.

In recognition of the "Think Pink" initiative, the Emory women's basketball team will be wearing pink uniforms that have been specially designed for the afternoon by Russell Athletic. This annual event is possible thanks to a number of corporate sponsors who played a vital role in the event including: Courtyard Marriott Executive Park & Northlake, Russell Athletic, the A&E Group, Emory Athletics, Sodexo, the Emory Bookstores and BJ's Wholesale Club .

Admission to the game is free and donations will be accepted.  Emory Eagles THINK PINK merchandise as well as Breast Cancer Awareness items will be on sale.  All proceeds will go to the Winship Cancer Institute as well as the Emory School of Medicine Breast Cancer Research Program.  For additional information on the events or donations please contact Emory Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing Angie Duprey at 404-727-6739.

THE COACHES - Emory Head Coach Christy Thomaskutty (Tulane, '96) is in her sixth season at the helm of the program.  She assumed her current duties prior to the start of the 2003-04 campaign. 

Gerri Seidl (Pittsburgh, 1978) is in her 25th season as the head coach at Carnegie Mellon and has compiled a school and career won-lost effort of 264-342. 

In his 10th campaign as head coach at Rochester is Jim Scheible (Clarkson, 1988).  He has guided the Yellowjackets to NCAA Final Four appearances in 2003 and 2004. Prior to coming to Rochester, Scheible coached at Elmira College for seven seasons. 

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory brings an overall record of 10-6 into the weekend, 1-4 in the UAA.  The Eagles split a pair of home games last weekend, dropping a 66-59 decision to No. 11 NYU before roaring back for a 69-56 triumph over No. 12 Brandeis. Emory has compiled a home record of 8-1 this year.

Carnegie Mellon stands 5-11 after 16 games (0-5 UAA).  Last weekend, the Tartans lost home games to Chicago (66-38) and Washington University (71-62).

Rochester, ranked 5th by D3hoops.com, and 6th in the USA Today ESPN Coaches Poll, takes an overall record of 15-1 (4-1 UAA) into a Friday outing at Case Western Reserve.  The Yellowjackets opened last weekend with a 65-62 win at home against Washington University before suffering their first loss of the campaign when Chicago recorded a 71-51 victory.

SERIES RECORDS - Emory holds a 24-15 lead in the all-time series with Carnegie Mellon that started in December of 1988.  The Eagles brought home wins in both games last season, 75-54 at Emory and 69-46 at CMU.  Emory has won nine of the last 10 contests between the schools.  In games played on Emory's home court, the Eagles have captured 14 of 19 affairs against the Tartans.  

In a series that has its origins in 1989, Emory holds a slight 21-18 advantage against Rochester.  The Eagles and Yellowjackets split a pair of games last year, with UR notching a 57-54 decision at the Woodruff PE Center before the Eagles snapped a nine-game losing streak to Rochester with a 59-56 victory.

80 THE MAGIC OFFENSIVE NUMBER  - Emory's wins over Huntingdon (86-53) and Agnes Scott (84-45) boosted Thomaskutty's record to 12-0 when the Eagles score 80 or more points (5-0 this season). Emory notched 80 or more points on three occasions last season.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

HOME SWEET HOME - The Eagles start the weekend with a 8-1 home record and average 77.3 points per game at the Woodruff PE Center while holding opponents to 59.0 points.  The Eagles have converted 43.8 percent of their field goal opportunities compared to 34.6 percent for the opposition. 

LILLARD KEEPS STEALS STREAK INTACT - Junior LeShoda Lillard finished the Brandeis game with one steal, snapping her streak of registering two or more thefts at 15 games.  Despite seeing that streak come to an end, Lillard still ranks as the team's top performer in that category and is tied for the No. 2 spot among UAA players with a 3.1 per-game average.  Her 49 steals ties for 10th place on Emory's seasonal ladder.  Career-wise, Lillard has picked the pocket of opponents 106 times, good for a 10th-place tie with Mekisha Parks (1998-2002) on Emory's career chart.

TURNER BACK ON SCORING TRACK - After seeing a 13-game double-figure scoring snapped at Washington University (Jan. 18), senior Lora Turner responded with a team-high 20 points at New York University before tallying 14 against Brandeis.  Turner has chalked up double-digit point production on 15 occasions this season and in 66 of 90 career outings.

Turner holds down the top spot on the team with a 16.0 points per-game average, good for the No. 2 spot on the UAA chart.  The 5-foot-11 Turner stands second among UAA players with a keen 58.6 percent (106-of-181) showing from the floor.  She has converted 50 percent or better from the field in 12 games and is knocking down 64.3 percent (18-of-20) of her attempts in the last three games.

Lora has chalked up six performances of 20 or more points this season (14 during her career).  In the Maryville game on Dec. 6, she became the seventh player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and takes 1,149 points into the Carnegie Mellon
game, fifth on Emory's all-time list. 

NOTES - Lillard's 14 free throws in the Brandeis represented the second-high individual game total in school history behind only Lora Turner's standard of 15 ... Junior Whitney Martin tied Turner for team honors with eight rebounds against NYU before snatching a team-best eight boards in the Brandeis contest ... Martin is averaging a club-leading 6.5 rebounds per game, good for the No. 7 spot on the UAA ladder, and has either led or shared for the team's lead in that department in eight games this season ... Brandeis shot 29.9 percent (20-of-67) from the floor against Emory, the fourth time this year that the Eagles limited an opponent to less than 30 percent from the field ... It also represented the lowest field goal percentage mark by an UAA opponent since Feb. 17, 2006 when Carnegie hit just 27.4 percent ... Sophomore Courtney Von Stein's 21-minute stint against Brandeis was the fifth time this season where she logged 20 or minutes of playing time ... In the Brandeis game, the Eagles shot 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from three-point range compared to the Judges' effort of 23.5 percent, snapping a five-game streak where the opposition had outshot Emory from beyond the arc ... Lillard ranks as the team leader and stands second among UAA players in assists (4.1 apg), and has led for shared for squad honors in that statistic in 11 contests this year ... The Eagles are tossing in 79.1 points and shooting 44.9 percent from the field in their 10 wins while averaging 63.0 points and 38.8 percent from the floor in the six setbacks ... Emory has 10 games of 10 or more steals this year and stands tied for the  No. 2 position in the UAA in that department (10.8 spg) ... The Eagles have outshot nine opponents from the floor and are 9-0 those affairs ... Emory has outrebounded foes in seven games this season and owns a 7-0 mark in those contests.

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

 2008-09 RECORDS - Emory takes an overall record of 9-5 into the weekend, 0-3 in the UAA.  The Eagles came out on the short end of two road affairs over the weekend, 78-67 at Chicago and 77-50 at No. 20 Washington University.  Emory is looking for continued success at the Woodruff PE Center having won all seven games played there this season.

NYU comes to town with a fine mark of 13-1, 2-1 in the UAA.  The Violets, ranked 12th nationally by the D3hoops.com and 11th in the USA Today ESPN Coaches Poll, won at Brandeis last Saturday by a 61-49 margin before posting a 67-59 win at home over Hunter College on Monday.

Brandeis is ranked 13th in D3hoops.com Poll, and stands tied for 12th in the USA Today ESPN Coaches rankings.  In their most recent outing, the Judges dropped a 61-49 home verdict to NYU.

SERIES RECORDS - NYU holds a 30-9 lead in the all-time series with Emory that started in January of 1989.  The Eagles brought home wins in both meetings last season, 80-60 at Emory and 64-61 at NYU.  Emory has won four of the last six contests between the schools.  The Violets hold the upper hand in games played on Emory's home court by a 14-6 margin.

In a series that has its origins in 1989,  Emory holds a slim 20-19 advantage against Brandeis.  The Eagles and Judges split a pair of games last year, with Brandeis escaping the Woodruff PE Center with a 70-66 win and the Eagles returning the favor on the Judges' home floor, 75-63.

80 THE MAGIC OFFENSIVE NUMBER  - Emory's recent wins over Huntingdon (86-53) and Agnes Scott (84-45) boosted Thomaskutty's record to 12-0 when the Eagles score 80 or more points (5-0 this season). Emory notched 80 or more points on three occasions last season (93 vs. Spelman, 80 vs. Agnes Scott and 80 vs. New York University (Feb. 1)).

HOME SWEET HOME - The Eagles start the weekend with a 7-0 home record, the longest winning streak on their home floor since 1996-97 and 1997-98 when the program rang up 16 consecutive triumphs (the final 11 of the 1996-97 season and the opening five home contests of the following campaign).

On the offensive end of the floor, Emory is averaging 81.1 points and hitting 45.1 percent of its field goal opportunities in its seven home games.  Defensively, the Eagles are surrendering just 58.4 points and allowing opponents a paltry 35.0 percent from the field.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

KRAUS SHINES IN CHICAGO GAME - Senior Jenny Kraus turned in a big effort at Chicago, leading the club in scoring with a career-high 23 points.  Kraus hit six-of-10 from the floor, including four three-point field goals, and seven free throw opportunities en route to her first performance of 20 or more points.  It was the second time this year that she finished as the team's top scorer with her 14 points at Piedmont representing the other occasion.  She has chalked up seven games of double-figure scoring during the 2008-09 campaign.

LILLARD KEEPS STEALS STREAK INTACT - Junior LeShoda Lillard recorded five steals against Chicago before registering pair of thefts at Washington University.  Lillard has two or more steals in all 14 games this year and her team-high total of 46 ranks her second among UAA players (3.3 spg).  Lillard reached the 100 career-steals mark in the UC affair and checks into this weekend's action in 12th place on the school's all-time chart with 103.  She is one shy of tying Ashley Gordon's (1991-93, '94-95) 11th-place mark of 104 and three shy of tying Mekisha Parks' (1998-2002) for 10th place.

TURNER SEES DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORING STREAK END - Senior Lora Turner finished the Wash U., game with eight points, snapping her double-figure scoring streak at 13 games.  Despite being saddled with single-digit scoring for the first time this year, Turner still holds down the top spot on the team with a 15.9 points per-game average, good for the No. 2 spot on the UAA chart.  The 5-foot-11 Turner also ranks as the league leader with a glittering 57.5 percent (92-of-160) showing from the floor.  She has converted 50 percent or better from the field in 10 games.

Lora has chalked up five performances of 20 or more points this season (13 during her career) and has notched 10 or more points in 64 of 88 career contests.
In the Maryville game on Dec. 6, she became the seventh player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and takes 1,115 points into the NYU game, sixth on Emory's all-time list and just two points shy of tying Beth Bergmann (2003-07) for fifth place.

 NOTES - Lillard paces the team and ranks second among UAA cagers in assists (4.2 apg) ... Lillard has led or shared for team honors in that category in 10 contests this year ... The Eagles are tossing in 80.2 points and shooting 44.8 percent from the field in their nine wins while averaging 63.8 points and 40.1 percent from the floor in the five setbacks ... Emory has 10 games of 10 or more steals this year and stands as the No. 1 team in the UAA in that department (11.5 spg) ... The Eagles have outshot eight opponents from the floor and are 8-0 those affairs ... Emory has outrebounded foes in seven games this season and owns a 7-0 mark in those contests ... Junior Whitney Martin stands eighth among UAA players in rebounding (6.3 rpg).

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

EMORY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS ROAD GAME TO NO. 20 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

(Jan. 18) - The Emory University women's basketball team fell victim to a torrid second-half shooting performance by Washington University Sunday as the Bears pulled away for a 77-50 triumph in Saint Louis.  The loss dropped Emory's overall record to 9-5 (0-3 UAA) while the 20th-ranked Wash U. squad boosted its overall slate to 11-3 (3-0 UAA).

Emory shot 33.3 percent from the floor (21-of-63) while the hosts posted a 48.6 percent showing (34-of-70) including a 57.5 percent clip (19-of-33) in the second half as it outscored the Eagles by a 41-24 margin.  The Bears had four players score in double figures, led by Zoe Unruh's 14 points, and concluded the contest with a 45-34 advantage in the rebounding department.

Junior LeShonda Lillard recorded nine points and six assists for Emory while seniors Lora Turner and Kendall Boyd each contributed eight points.  Turner, along with sophomore Keenan Whitesides, tied for team honors with five rebounds.

After trailing by a 36-26 margin at halftime, the Eagles drew to within eight points, 42-34, with 16:37 remaining following a three-point field goal by senior Kerry Madison.  However, Wash U. countered with a decisive 15-3 run over the next minutes to extend its lead to 57-37.  The closest Emory would get from that point was 13 points with 7:44 left in the game.

In a fast-paced first half, the Bears had nine players score en route to its halftime lead. Emory shot 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from the floor during the opening 20 minutes of action and was led by Lillard's six points and three assists. Halsey Ward totaled eight points to lead the Bears, who held a 24-20 edge in rebounding including a 10-7 advantage on the offensive end.

Emory returns to action on Friday (Jan. 23) when it plays at home against No. 13 New York University.

EMORY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS ROAD GAME TO CHICAGO

(Jan. 16) - The Emory women's basketball team received a career-high 23 points from senior Jenny Kraus but it wasn't enough as the Eagles fell to the University of Chicago Friday evening.  Emory saw its record fall to 9-4 overall (0-2 University Athletic Association) while the Maroons upped their mark to 10-3 (1-1 UAA).

Kraus finished the contest sinking six-of-10 from the floor, including four-of-eight from three-point, and knocked down seven free throws in registering her first-ever 20-point performance as an Emory player.  Senior Lora Turner was the team's other double-figure scorer with 13 points.  Pacing the Chicago effort was sophomore Karly Kasper with 20 points and nine rebounds and senior Alex Leach with 14 points.

The Eagles ended the game shooting 36.1 percent from the floor (22-of-61) while the host Maroons were successful on 50.9 percent (29-of-57).  Though Emory finished with a season-low seven turnovers, it was outrebounded by a 51-27 margin and hampered at the foul line where it could only sink 15-of-31 opportunities.

Despite shooting just 32.3 percent (10-of-31) from the floor while seeing the Maroons connect at a 48.3 percent clip, and holding a 27-12 edge in rebounding, the Eagles trailed by just a 36-30 margin at halftime. Kraus kept Emory within striking distance with 12 points, hitting four-of-six from the floor, including three-of-five from beyond the arc.  Chicago built its largest lead during the opening 20 minutes at 35-22 with 2:48 remaining in the stanza before the Eagles closed out the half with an 8-1 spurt, keyed by treys by sophomore Courtney Von Stein and Kraus.

UC opened the second half with an 11-5 run to take a 47-35 edge with 16:56 remaining. The Eagles battled back to within eight points on three occasions, the last time coming with 12:11 on the clock.  The Maroons put some distance between themselves and the Eagles with an 8-2 spurt that pushed its lead to 64-50, then its largest lead of the contest, with 9:16 left.  

Emory returns to action on Sunday (Jan. 18) when it plays at No. 20 Washington University.

NOTES
** Emory junior LeShonda Lillard chalked up four steals and has two or more thefts in all 13 games this year.  Lillard cracked the 100-steals career mark this evening and now has 101 to her credit, good for a tie with Katie Anding (2003-07) for 12th place on the school's all-time list

** Lora Turner's 13 points was her 13th consecutive double-figure scoring contest

** Jenny Kraus' four three-point field goals represented her fourth outing this season of two or more treys.  Kraus has scored in double figures in seven games this season.

EMORY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM  BATTLES CHICAGO AND
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN UAA ROAD ACTION
           
(Jan. 14) - GAME FACTS - The Emory women's basketball team faces a pair tough challenges this weekend as it battles a pair of University Athletic Association foes.  On Friday (Jan. 16) the Eagles take on the University of Chicago before venturing to Saint Louis for a Sunday afternoon contest at Washington University.

The Ratner Center on the Chicago campus will serve as the site of the 40th meeting between the Eagles and Maroons and tip is slated for 6:00 p.m. (CST).  The Washington University Field House will host the 40ht contest between Emory and the Bears with that affair starting at 1:00 p.m. (CST).

THE COACHES - Emory Head Coach Christy Thomaskutty (Tulane, '96) is in her sixth season at the helm of the program.  She assumed her current duties prior to the start of the 2003-04 campaign. 

Aaron Roussell  (Iowa, 2001) is in his fifth year as the head coach at Chicago. Heading into Friday's action, he has compiled a school and career ledger of 82-33.  He was named the 2007-08 UAA Coach of the Year after directing the Maroons to a league title along with a 22-6 record.

In her 23rd campaign as head coach at Washington University is Nancy Fahey (Wisconsin, 1981).  Prior to a Friday home game against Case, Fahey has a school and career mark of 525-96.  She has captured four national championships and has a total of 17 first-place finishes in the UAA to her credit.

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory takes an overall record of 9-3 into the weekend, 0-1 in the UAA.  The Eagles opened conference play last Saturday (Jan. 10) with a 90-66 loss at Case before bouncing back with a 77-50 triumph at home against Piedmont on Monday.

Chicago plays host the Emory with a 9-3 record, 0-1 in the conference.  The Maroons dropped their UAA opener last weekend to Washington University by a 54-50 margin.

Wash U., ranked 20th in the USA Today ESPN Coaches Poll and 26th by D3hoops.com, takes a 9-3 showing into a Friday game against Case.  The Bears start the weekend with a five-game winning streak.

SERIES RECORDS - Chicago holds a 24-15 lead in the all-time series with Emory that started in February of 1989.  The Maroons claimed both meetings last season, 54-52 at Chicago and 68-52 at Emory.  Chicago was won 12 of 19 contests played on its home floor.  

In a series that has its origins in 1989,  Washington University holds a 34-5 advantage in the all-time series with Emory.  The teams split a pair of meetings last season with the Bears claiming a 76-63 win at home and the Eagles a 68-66 decision at the Woodruff PE Center.

80 THE MAGIC OFFENSIVE NUMBER  - Emory's recent wins over Huntingdon (86-53) and Agnes Scott (84-45) boosted Thomaskutty's record to 12-0 when the Eagles score 80 or more points (5-0 this season). Emory notched 80 or more points on three occasions last season (93 vs. Spelman, 80 vs. Agnes Scott and 80 vs. New York University (Feb. 1)).

TURNER PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS - Senior Lora Turner continues to post impressive offensive totals with her team-high 20 points against Piedmont marking her 12th straight effort of double-figure scoring.  Turner, who has paced the Eagles in scoring in the last seven and in a total of 10 games this year, is scoring at a 16.8 per-game clip, tops on the team and second among UAA players.  She has chalked up five performances of 20 or more points this season (13 during her career) and has notched 10 or more points in 63 of 86 career contests. Lora has converted a league-leading 58.9 percent of her field goal opportunities (83-of-141) and has been successful on 50 percent or better from the floor in nine games.

In the Maryville game on Dec. 6, she became the seventh player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and takes 1,094 points into the Chicago game, sixth on Emory's all-time list and just 23 points shy of tying Beth Bergmann (2003-07) for fifth place.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

WHITESIDES MAKING MOST OF MINUTES - Junior Keenan Whitesides has earned more playing time of late and is making her presence felt when out on the floor.  Since the Eagles returned from holiday break, she has played 12 or more minutes in each of the team's last five games and is averaging 14.6 minutes, 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per outing.  In addition, she is shooting 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor in that stretch. 

LILLARD DISHING AND DASHING - Junior LeShonda Lillard continues to be effective at both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.  Lillard is averaging a team-best 4.1 assists per game, good for second place among UAA players.  In addition, she ranks No. 3 in the loop in the all-important assist/turnover ratio department (+1.8).  Other offensive categories where she ranks prominently include scoring average (12th, 10.3 ppg) and free throw percentage (4th, .750).

Defensively, she has registered two or more thefts in all 12 contests and her four steals in the Piedmont affair represented her fifth performance of four or more in that category this year.   She holds down the No. 2 spot in the UAA in steals (3.3 spg).  Career-wise, she has 96 steals to her credit and is 14th on the school's all-time chart.

 NOTES - Senior Kerry Madison and junior Whitney Martin tied for the team high with eight boards against Piedmont, marking the sixth time this year that Martin had paced the team in that department and the second time for Madison ... Martin still holds down the top spot on the team with a 6.8 per-game showing in rebounding, good for the No. 5 spot among UAA cagers ... Senior Jenny Kraus came through with 12 points at Case, her sixth double-figure scoring performance of the campaign ... Kraus is knocking down free throws at a 72.7 percent clip, seventh in the UAA ... After being outrebounded by a 42-32 margin at Case, the Eagles hit the boards and grabbed a season-high 53 caroms against Piedmont while registering a season-high plus-18 bulge in the category ... Emory has nine games of 10 or more steals this year and stands as the No. 1 team in the UAA in that department (12.3 spg) ... Emory has outrebounded its foes in seven games this season and owns a 7-0 mark in those contests ... Emory heads into the weekend leading the UAA in overall scoring (77.0 ppg) ... The Eagles have outshot eight opponents from the floor and are 8-0 those affairs ... Sophomore Liz Brandt recorded a career-high seven rebounds in the Piedmont game.

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory stands 8-2 prior to its conference opener. In their most recent outing, the Eagles raced to an 85-45 victory over Agnes Scott on Monday (Jan. 5).  Senior Lora Turner paced the team's scoring effort with 21 points while classmate Kerry Madison chipped in nine points along with a season-high 10 rebounds.

The Spartans of CWRU meet Emory with a 7-4 record.  Case hosted Hiram on Wednesday of this week and recorded a 69-52 win. 

Piedmont will be looking to reverse a trend that has seen it drop 10 of its 11 games.  The Lions played at Agnes Scott on Wednesday (Jan. 7) and fell victim to the Scotties by a 65-54 count.

SERIES RECORDS - Case holds a 17-12 lead in the all-time series with Emory that started in December of 1988.  The Spartans claimed both meetings last season, 76-72 at Emory and 77-71 in Cleveland.  Case was won 10 of 15 contests played on its home floor.  

In a series that has its origins in 1988, both Emory and Piedmont have come away with 10 victories.  The Eagles came away with a win earlier this season (Nov. 25) when they topped the Lions by a 74-60 margin. Emory shows a 5-4 record against Piedmont in games played on its home court.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

80 THE MAGIC OFFENSIVE NUMBER  - Emory's wins over Huntingdon (86-53) and Agnes Scott (84-45) boosted Thomaskutty's record to 12-0 when the Eagles score 80 or more points (4-0 this season). Emory notched 80 or more points on three occasions last season (93 vs. Spelman, 80 vs. Agnes Scott and 80 vs. New York University (Feb. 1)).

TURNER PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS - Senior Lora Turner has been the team's most consistent offensive performer, averaging a team-high 16.4 points, good for the No. 2 spot among University Athletic Association players, while knocking down a league-leading 55.9 percent (66-of-118) of her field goal opportunities. The 5-foot-11 Turner has scored in double figures in all 10 games and has four 20-point performances to her credit (at LaGrange, Nov. 18, Baruch, Nov. 22, 20 vs. Oglethorpe, Dec. 2 and Agnes Scott, Jan. 5).  She now has scored in double figures in 61 of 84 career contests and has produced 12 contests of 20 or more points.

In the Maryville game, she became the seventh player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and takes 1,057 points into the Case game, seventh on Emory's all-time list and just 13 points shy of tying Lynn Oberschmidt (2002-06) for sixth place.

NOTES - Junior LeShonda Lillard heads into the weekend with 108 assists during her Emory career ... Lillard is averaging a team-best 3.8 assists per game and ranks third among UAA players in that category ... Lillard registered four steals in the Agnes Scott game has two or more thefts in all 10 Eagles' outings this year ... She is No. 2 among conference players with a 3.2 steals per game mark and her career total of 89 slots her in a tie for 15th place on Emory's all-time list ... The 45 points allowed to Agnes Scott was the seventh-lowest opponent total during Thomaskutty's 135 games she has coached at Emory ... Junior Keenan Whitesides continues to make the most of her playing time, chalking up six points in a 12-minute stint vs. Agnes Scott ... In her last three performances, Whitesides is averaging 12.0 minutes, 7.3 points while shooting 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the floor ... Lora Turner has paced the club in scoring in the last five and in a total of eight games this year ... Senior Kerry Madison's season-high 10 boards against Agnes Scott represented her second career double-figure effort in that category ... Madison recorded a personal best by knocking down three three-point field goals against ASC ... Senior Jenny Kraus came off the bench and notched 12 points against Agnes Scott, her fifth double-figure scoring performance of the season while tying her season high with seven boards and registering a career-best six assists ... Kraus leads the team and is No. 4 in the UAA with a showing of 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the foul line ... Emory has turned the ball over on fewer occasions that the opposition in eight of the last nine games ... Opponents have attempted more free throws in seven of the last eight affairs ... Emory has outrebounded its foes in six games this season and owns a 6-0 mark in those contests ... Through games played Jan. 7, Emory tops the UAA in scoring offense (78.1 ppg) and steals (12.8 spg) ... Junior Whitney Martin paces the club in rebounding with a 7.1 per-game average, good for the No. 4 position in the UAA ... Martin has either led or shared for team honors in rebounding in five outings this season.

THE COACHES - Emory Head Coach Christy Thomaskutty (Tulane, '96) is in her sixth season at the helm of the program.  She assumed her current duties prior to the start of the 2003-04 campaign. 

Brad Hodge (Athens State, 1996) is in his fourth year as the head coach at Birmingham Southern. Prior to his current post, Hodge spent four campaigns as the head coach at East Central Community College (MS).

Serving as athletic director and women's basketball coach at Huntingdon College in Buzz Phillips (Troy State, 1970).

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory brings a 6-1 record into its game at Birmingham Southern.  In their last game before breaking for final exams and the holidays, the Eagles came out on the short end of a 65-60 road decision to Maryville College on Dec. 6. Emory is 2-1 on enemy courts and a perfect 4-0 in games played on its home floor.

Birmingham Southern entertains Emory with a won-lost ledger of 7-2.  The Panthers have captured their last four games including a 73-68 decision over Maryville College on Dec. 16.

Huntingdon took a 3-2 slate into its own Holiday Classic (Dec. 28-29) where it was to play Robert Morris on Sunday and Bryan (TN) on Monday.

SERIES RECORDS - Birmingham Southern and Emory  met for the first time last season with the Panthers managing an 80-68 victory at the Woodruff PE Center.

Emory stands 2-0 all-time against the Hawks of Huntingdon.  Last season, the Eagles recorded a 69-57 win at Roland Arena in Montgomery, Alabama.
 
80 THE MAGIC OFFENSIVE NUMBER  - Emory's 85-84 triumph over then No. 2-ranked Oglethorpe (Dec. 2) boosted Thomaskutty's record to 10-0 when the Eagles score 80 or more points (3-0 this season). Emory notched 80 or more points on three occasions last season (93 vs. Spelman, 80 vs. Agnes Scott and 80 vs. New York University (Feb. 1)).

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

TURNER PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS - Senior Lora Turner has been the team's most consistent offensive performer, averaging a team-high 16.1 points, good for the No. 2 spot among University Athletic Association players, while knocking down 54.2 percent (45-of-83) of her field goal opportunities, tops on the squad and sixth on the conference ladder. The 5-foot-11 Turner has scored in double figures in all seven games and has three 20-point performances to her credit (at LaGrange, Nov. 18, Baruch, Nov. 22 & 20 vs. Oglethorpe, Dec. 2).  She now has scored in double figures in 58 of 81 career contests and has produced 11 contests of 20 or more points.

In the Maryville game, she became the seventh player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and takes 1,006 points into the Birmingham Southern contest.

NOTES - Junior LeShonda Lillard checks into the Birmingham Southern clash just two assists shy of reaching 100 during her Emory career ... Lillard totaled 13 points in the Maryville game, her fourth double-figure scoring effort of the season ... Lillard has chalked up a team-best 21 steals and is 19th on the Eagles' all-time chart with 78 thefts ... Emory attempted a season-low four free throws in the Maryville outing, the program's lowest effort in that category since Dec. 2, 2006, when it attempted four from the charity stripe vs. Davidson ... The Eagles have turned the ball over on fewer occasions than their opposition in each of the last six games ... Emory has outshot opponents from the floor in five games ...  Opponents have attempted more free throws than Emory in each of the last five contests ... Junior Whitney Martin paces the club in rebounding with a 7.6 per-game average, good for the No. 3 position in the UAA ... Martin has either led or shared for team honors in rebounding in five outings this season ... Turner resides in 11th place on the school's ladder in rebounding (492) and needs eight boards to reach 500 in her career ... Emory ranks second among UAA teams in scoring average (76.3 ppg), field goal percentage (.452) and turnover margin (+5.14) ... Senior Jenny Kraus is fifth among UAA cagers in free throw percentage (.773, 17-of-22) while Lillard stands sixth (.760, 19-of-25).

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory is off to a 5-0 start, the program's first such five-game start since the 1997-98 campaign.  In the Eagles' last outing, they came away with a 74-60 victory at Piedmont College on Nov. 25.  Pacing the team's scoring effort in that contest was senior Jenny Kraus with 14 points while junior Whitney Martin was the club's top rebounder with nine boards.

Oglethorpe, ranked No. 2 in the nation by D3hoops.com, takes a 4-0 record into its game at Emory.  Tuesday's trip to the Woodruff PE Center will be the first action for the Petrels since Nov. 22, when they topped Wheaton College, 99-68.

Maryville currently stands 1-3 and will play Wesleyan (Nov. 30) and Carson-Newman College (Dec. 3) before meeting the Eagles.

SERIES RECORDS - In a series that began in 1992, Emory sports a 24-6 mark against Oglethorpe. The Petrels have won the last three meetings including last season's 87-78 verdict at Oglethorpe.  In games played on Emory's home court, the Eagles show a 14-2 effort vs. Oglethorpe.

 Emory and Maryville each have four wins in the series that began in 1995.  Last year, the Lady Scots escaped the Woodruff PE Center with a 64-62 victory. 

80 THE MAGIC OFFENSIVE NUMBER  - Emory's 88-80 triumph over Baruch College (Nov. 22) boosted Thomaskutty's record to 9-0 when the Eagles score 80 or more points (2-0 this season). Emory notched 80 or more points on three occasions last season (93 vs. Spelman, 80 vs. Agnes Scott and 80 vs. New York University, Feb. 1).

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

BOYD FINDING THE MARK - After going 1-of-7 from the floor in her first two games, senior guard Kendall Boyd has found her shooting eye,  connecting on 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the field over the last three contests.  Included in those totals is a keen 70 percent effort (7-of-10) from three-point range.  During that span, she is averaging 14.0 points and 3.0 assists per outing.

TURNER PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS - Senior Lora Turner has been the team's most consistent offensive performer, averaging a team-high 15.6 points while making her presence known on the boards, grabbing 5.6 rebounds per contest, good for second place on the team.  The 5-foot-11 Turner has scored in double figures in all five games and has a pair of 20-point performances to her credit (at LaGrange, Nov. 18 & Baruch, Nov. 22).  She now has scored in double figures in 56 of 79 career contests and has produced 10 contests of 20 or more points. She has 971 career points to her credit and is No. 7 in all-time scoring at Emory.

MARTIN A FORCE ON THE BOARDS - Through five games, junior Whitney Martin ranks first on the team in rebounding with an 8.6 per-game average.  The 6-foot Martin has paced the team in that department in four of five outings and has a pair of double-digit efforts to her credit (11 vs. Sewanee (Nov. 16) and 10 vs. Baruch (Nov. 22).  She has snared six or more boards in every game.

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

EMORY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM HOSTS TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT
           
GAME FACTS - (Nov. 20) - The 2008-09 Emory University women's basketball team returns to the Woodruff PE Center this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 21-22) when it hosts the Tip-Off Tournament.  The Eagles will take on North Carolina Wesleyan in a 6:00 p.m. start on Friday with Rose-Hulman and Baruch closing out the opening evening of action in an 8:00 p.m. tip.  On Saturday, the consolation game starts at 6:00 and will be followed by the championship tilt at 8:00 p.m.

THE COACHES - Emory Head Coach Christy Thomaskutty (Tulane, '96) is in her sixth season at the helm of the program.  She assumed her current duties prior to the start of the 2003-04 campaign. 

John Brackett (N. Carolina Wesleyan, ‘88) is in his 20th year as the head coach at his alma mater. He is the school's all-time winningest coach and has been honored as the Dixie/USA South Conference Coach of the Year on three occasions.   

In his fourth year as head coach of the Baruch College program is Machli Joseph (St. Mary's (CA), ‘96).  Joseph claims a school and career record of 65-23  heading into the weekend including last year's mark of 21-7 that included an NCAA Tournament berth.

Calling the shots for the Rose-Hulman program is third-year head coach Jon Prevo (Indiana State, '86).  Prevo has compiled a 32-20 ledger during his tenure with the Engineers.

2008-09 RECORDS - Emory has gotten off to a 2-0 start thus far with a 71-46 season-opening win against the University of the South (Nov. 16) and an 80-67 triumph at LaGrange College on Tuesday (Nov. 18).

North Carolina Wesleyan opened its season on Saturday (Nov. 15) with a 55-41 win at Salem College.  Leading the Lady Bishops in that contest was senior guard Essence Williams with 21 points and 10 rebounds.  

This weekend's contests will represent the season openers for both Rose-Hulman and Baruch College.

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

SERIES RECORDS - The Eagles have never met any of this year's Emory Tip-Off Tournament opponents.

EMORY LOOKS TO DEFEND TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP  -- Emory will be aiming to bring home its second straight Tip-Off Tournament championship after defeating Spelman College (93-55) and Montclair State (55-54) last season.  Sparking the Eagles' performance that weekend was Lora Turner who averaged 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in the two games.  Emory's 93 points against Spelman established the program's highest total during Christy Thomaskutty's tenure at Emory.

80 THE MAGIC OFFENSIVE NUMBER  - Emory's 80-67 triumph over LaGrange College boosted Thomaskutty's record to 8-0 when the Eagles score 80 or more points. Emory notched 80 or more points on three occasions last season (93 vs. Spelman, 80 vs. Agnes Scott and 80 vs. New York University, Feb. 1).

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

EMORY RESERVES HELP THE CAUSE - After two games, the Emory bench has made its presence felt, averaging 28.5 points and 14.5 rebounds.  In the win over Sewanee, the Eagles' reserves totaled 30 points and 18 rebounds before posting 27 points and 11 boards at LaGrange.  Senior Jenny Kraus has been the most productive offensive player, averaging 10.5 points.  Kraus, scored 11 of her 13 points against LaGrange in the second half,  knocking down four-of-six from the field, including three-of-five from beyond the arc, over the final 20 minutes of play.

TURNER MOVES UP THE SCORING CHART - Lora Turner's 20-point evening at LaGrange enabled her to move into seventh place on the school's all-time scoring ladder.  Turner now has 925 points to her credit and moved ahead of Cathy Goodgame's (1988-91) total of 922 points.  She now has scored in double figures in 53 of 76 career contests and has produced nine contests of 20 or more points.

MARTIN NOTCHES FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE  - Junior forward Whitney Martin recorded her first double-double against Sewanee with a 10-point, career-high 11 rebound performance in the 71-46 win.  Martin sank four-of-six from the floor and two-of-three from the charity stripe en route to her sixth career performance of double-digit scoring.  She followed that effort by leading the team in rebounding, pulling down seven caroms against LaGrange.

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

DOWN THE ROAD - Following the Emory Tip-Off Tournament, the Eagles will play at Piedmont College on Tuesday, Nov. 25 in a 6:00 p.m. start.

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty

SERIES RECORDS -  In a series that started in 1988, Emory claims an all-time record of 26-9 against South.  Last season, the Eagles ventured to Sewanee and posted a 79-67 win.  Pacing the Emory effort in that game was Lora Turner with 20 points and eight rebounds while Whitney Martin came off the bench to chip in 10 points and six boards. Emory sports a 13-4 record against the Tigers in games played on its home floor and has won five of the last six meetings at the Woodruff PE Center.

Emory holds a 6-1 edge in the all-time series against LaGrange which started in 2001. The Eagles have captured the last four meetings between the schools including last year's 79-44 decision at Emory.   In that contest, Emory knocked down 50 percent of its attempts from the floor while converting a season-high 32 field goals.

EMORY AND SEASON/HOME OPENERS -- Sunday's game against Sewanee will mark the fourth straight year that the Eagles have opened their season at the Woodruff PE Center.  Emory has won its last three season openers and shows a record of 13-7 (4-1 under Thomaskutty) in such contests.  In home openers, The Eagles stand 16-4 (4-1 under Thomaskutty).

SMITH LOOKS FOR CONTINUED SEASON-OPENING MAGIC - If the past two season openers are any indication, the Emory fans will be looking for junior Mary Smith to turn in another productive contest.   The 5-foot-8 Smith has been the team's top point producer in each of the past two season openers, averaging 19.5 points while shooting 71.4  percent from the floor (15-of-21).  In last year's 93-55 win over Spelman, Smith converted six-of-10 from the floor including both of her three-point opportunities.  In 2006, Smith drained nine-of-11 from the field while totaling 20 points in a 72-62 decision over Southwestern.

Emory's Top Offensive Scoring Efforts Under Thomaskutty 

TURNER ON EMORY CAREER CHARTS - Lora Turner enters her senior season ranking prominently in numerous school categories.  Turner heads into Friday's action with 893 career points, good for the No. 8 position on the school's all-time list.  Her 50.6 percent mark from the floor holds down the No. 3 spot while her 12.1 points per game average is seventh.  In the rebounding department, she is 11th all time at Emory with 454 boards. 

Turner scored in double figures on 21 occasions last year en route to First Team All-UAA honors, the first Emory player to be afforded such recognition since the 2001-02 season.

LILLARD BACK AT THE POINT - Junior LeShonda Lillard, an honorable-mention pick to the All-UAA team last season, looks to build upon a fine first year with the Eagles at her point guard spot. The 5-foot-6 Lillard started 23 of 24 games last season, averaging 9.8 points (third high on the team) along with a team-high 2.9 assists per outing.  In addition to her offensive prowess, Lillard recorded a team-leading 57 steals, good for fourth place on the school's seasonal chart.

Emory's Career Rebounding Leaders

DEFENSE DOES THE TRICK -- During Thomaskutty's tenure at Emory, the Eagles show a 34-12 record when holding a foe to 60 or fewer points.  Last year, Emory recorded an 8-2 record in those contests.