The Emory women's basketball put up a valiant effort against nationally ranked Rochester Saturday afternoon in the University Athletic Association opener for both squads.  The Eagles gave the 10^th-ranked Yellowjackets all they could handle before falling in double overtime, 72-68.  Emory slipped to 6-6 overall with the setback while Rochester improved to 11-1.

Sophomore Erin Lindahl led all players with 19 points, her second-highest career total, with seven of that total coming in the two extra sessions. She connected eight-of-16 field goal attempts, including a pair of three pointers, in notching her third straight and ninth double-digit effort of the season.  Lindahl also grabbed 10 boards to come away with her third double-double of the year.  Junior Azzairia Jackson-Sherrod registered her first double-double of the year and second of her career with a 14-point, game-high 14 rebound outing, while also totaling three blocked shots.  Senior Ashley Oldshue and freshman Blair Ripley rounded out the team's double-figure scorers with 15 and 10 points, respectively, with Ripley grabbing a season-high tying nine rebounds.

In a battle that featured 16 ties and 11 lead changes, Emory was down by two points in the fourth quarter before a bucket by Oldshue knotted the score at 59-59 with 26 seconds left.  After Rochester turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, the Eagles had a chance to come away with the win but saw a shot attempt miss its mark.  In the first overtime, Lindahl hit back-to-back baskets to put the Eagles ahead by four points. After a Yellowjacket free throw, a jumper by Oldshue with 1:12 left put Emory ahead, 65-60.  Lauren Foley countered with a three-pointer 21 seconds later to draw UR to within two, and when Emory failed to score on its next possession, a jumper by Lauren Deming with eight ticks on the clock found its mark, tying the contest and forcing another five minutes of play.  Deming paced the UR offensive attack with 17 points. 

The second overtime started with both teams combine to miss their first nine field goal attempts before UR's Alexandra Lelie scored with 2:44 remaining.  However, the Eagles tied the score at 67-67 following a basket by Lindahl with 1:54 on the clock.  Following empty possessions by both teams, Leslie gave the Yellowjackets the lead for good with 32 seconds left after converting a layup.  After the Eagles cut the deficit in half after making one-of-two from the stripe, Leslie drained a pair of free throws to give Rochester a 71-68 margin with 11 ticks left.  Emory attempted a three pointer in the waning moments but couldn't convert the opportunity, with Rochester grabbing a rebound and getting foul, which led to it making one of two free throws.

Emory held the Yellowjackets to just 29.3 percent (24-82) from the floor while converting 33.8 percent (27-80).  The Eagles also held an impressive 65-52 edge in rebounding with that total the third-highest single-game mark in school history.  Emory grabbed 19 offensive caroms which helped lead to a 16-5 advantage in second-chance points.

Emory returns to action on Friday (Jan. 12) when it hosts Carnegie Mellon in a 6:00 pm start.