2014-15 EMORY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RECAP

Entering the 2014-15 season, the Emory women's basketball team faced the formidable task of having to replace the valuable contributions as well as the talent of a six-member senior class that helped account for 69 victories and one trip to the NCAA Tournament during the group’s tenure. In addition, the Eagles battled the injury bug throughout the year that stymied the development and cohesiveness of the team.

With no seniors on the roster and with a unit comprised of a combination of vets looking to increase their overall production with that of six freshmen, Emory finished with an overall record of 12-13. And while the final mark snapped a three-year streak of winning seasons, a solid foundation was built that should translate into future success.

Emory opened the campaign with wins over regional foes, LaGrange College, Oglethorpe University and Berry College, the latter ending the year with an overall record of 18-9.  After coming out on the short end of decisions to Birmingham Southern and eventual NCAA Tournament participant Maryville College, Emory ran their record to 5-2 heading into fall exams following home victories against Agnes Scott and Sewanee. 

The Eagles returned to action following the holidays looking at a seven-game road trip that started with a split at Piedmont College’s Cancer Awareness Tournament, topping Salem College in their opening tilt before losing to the host Lions.  The first test on the 2015 portion of the schedule saw Emory turn in a defensive clinic, as it came away with a 60-39 outcome over a Guilford College squad that would compile 17 wins during the season.  After the win over the Quakers, Emory ventured to Rhodes College where it toppled the No. 23-ranked and future NCAA Tourney-bound Lynx, 73-61. 

Head coach Christy Thomaskutty and her charges opened the UAA docket with three road setbacks before bouncing back with home triumphs against Case Western Reserve and Carnegie Mellon.  However, the rest of the league schedule proved to be daunting for the young Eagles as they would drop seven of their nine remaining conference games. 

Junior Khadijah Sayyid enjoyed a breakout season and was just one of two players to start all 25 games en route to earning First Team All-UAA honors as well as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.  Chosen by D3hoops.com as a Second Team All-South Region performer, Sayyid finished first on the team and fourth among UAA players in overall scoring average with a 14.6 points-per-game average, good for the No. 15 position on the program's seasonal chart.  A three-time UAA Player of the Week, she produced double-figure scoring on 18 occasions including seven outings of 20 or more points.  In addition to her scoring totals, Sayyid topped the team and ranked fifth on the conference chart with a 7.6 per-game effort in rebounding, leading or sharing for team honors in that department on 15 occasions.  Her relentless play on the defensive end of the floor led to a team-best 65 steals, and her 2.6 thefts-per-game average was second in the UAA.

Freshman Dumebi Egbuna gave the Emory front court as boost as she established herself as one the UAA’s bright young prospects.  The 5-foot-11 Egbuna started 18 of the 24 games she appeared in and tossed in 7.9 points while ranking second on the team in rebounding with a 4.9 per-game showing.  She bumped up those averages in league action at 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, both second on the team, which helped her land Honorable Mention All-UAA status. A double-digit point producer in nine games, Egbuna concluded the seasons with a team-high 44.7 percent mark (72-of-161) from the floor that ranked eighth on the UAA ladder.

Sophomore Michelle Bevan was the other Emory player to garner post-season consideration, joining Egbuna on the All-UAA Honorable Mention Team.  Bevan, 5-foot-10, battled injuries but managed to start 16 of 18 contests, standing third on the team in both scoring (8.5 ppg) and rebounding (4.7 rpg).  She was successful of a team-high 70.2 percent from the charity stripe, converting 33 of her 47 attempts, and ended up 12^th on the UAA list for league affairs, draining 73.3 percent (22-of-30) of her opportunities.

Junior Ilene Tsao assumed the majority of the point-guard duties from the graduated Savannah Morgan and doled out 97 assists, good for third place in the UAA and 13th on the Eagles' seasonal chart.  Tsao also scored at a 7.6 per-game clip while compiling a mark of 4.6 rebounds per effort.  In addition, she complemented Sayyid with her defensive skills generating 41 steals, second-most on the team, and her 1.6 per-game showing was good for the No. 7 spot among UAA leaders.

Though slowed somewhat by injuries, sophomore Shellie Kaniut played in 20 games and drew 13 starting nods.  The 5-foot-7 backcourt performers averaged 25.1 minutes per playing stint and ended up second on the team and 15^th on the UAA overall scoring ladder (9.2 ppg), notching double-figure scoring on nine occasions.

Honors and Awards