The Emory University women's basketball team stayed red-hot Saturday afternoon as it downed the University of Rochester, 86-65, to capture the University Athletic Association opener at the Woodruff PE Center in Atlanta, GA. The win marked the team's fifth in a row as the Eagles improved to 10-2 while the loss dropped the visiting Yellowjackets to 6-6 on the season.
A well-balanced scoring attack with seven players notching at least eight points or more led the way for Emory in the conference opener. Seniors Allison Chernow and Erin Lindahl headlined the scoring attack with Chernow recording a season-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting with Lindahl finishing with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Junior Molly Weiss and sophomore Anna Arato aided the scoring efforts as the duo both posted 11 points with Weiss knocking down a team-best three from deep.
The Eagles as a team were hot from the floor, knocking down 48.4 percent of their shots (31-64) including nine from long range (9-for-22), and were able to capitalize with 25 points off 17 Rochester turnovers. In addition, Emory was a perfect 15-for-15 from the charity stripe.
Julianna Okoniewski scored a career-high 23 points to pace the visitors to go along with a game-high nine rebounds. Hannah Lindemuth added a double figure effort with 12 points and was one of three Yellowjackets to grab five rebounds. After seeing Rochester nail three three-pointers within the first five minutes of the opening quarter, the Emory defense clamped down, holding UR to 0-12 from behind the arc for the remainder of the contest.
It was an entertaining and high-scoring first quarter as UR forged ahead early thanks to a quick 8-2 burst out of the gates, before Emory assembled a 20-7 run in response to take a 22-15 lead on a Lindahl three from the corner. The margin stayed at seven, 26-19, after a Lindahl layup but Rochester cut it to one before the horn sounded with a 6-0 spurt to end the period.
A dominating second quarter helped the Eagles pull ahead for good as Emory outscored Rochester 17-9 and used a 10-2 run thanks to a three-point play from Chernow and a long triple from Weiss to break open which was a 31-29 ballgame.
The Eagles hit the road next weekend as they travel to NYU for a Friday evening affair before travelling to Brandeis for a Sunday afternoon tilt.