The Emory University women's basketball team fell to New York University Friday evening, 54-50, in a battle of first-place teams at the WoodPEC in Atlanta.
The Violets outscored the Eagles 17-10 over the final 10 minutes of action, earning the four-point win to remain tied for first with Chicago at 7-3 in the UAA with four games to play. With the defeat, the Eagles drop to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in the conference.
Leading 42-37 with 9:38 remaining in the fourth, NYU proceeded to go on a 14-3 run over the next nine minutes of the game including a dry spell for the Eagles where the team failed to score a bucket from 5:28 left on the clock until a running jumper went in by junior Molly Weiss with 15 seconds remaining, cutting the NYU lead to 51-47. After two free throws by the Violets, senior Erin Lindahl drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it a three-point game at 53-50 with 10.5 seconds left but Emory would not get any closer.
Jenny Walker powered the Violets attack with a game-high 20 points on 10-of-19 shooting to go along with a team-high eight rebounds. UAA leading scorer Janean Cuffee was held to just two points through the first three quarters but scored nine points, including five clutch free throws down the stretch, in the final period to finish with 11 points and eight rebounds.
For the Eagles, junior Blair Ripley produced her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. She was an absolute force defensively, turning in her fourth consecutive game with at least four blocks, finishing with a career-best six rejections. With her six blocks, Ripley moved into sole possession of second all-time with 109 in her career.
Weiss joined Ripley in double figures, recording 11 points on the strength of three three-pointers in her second career start. Lindahl was third in scoring, totaling nine points while grabbing five rebounds.
The Eagles close out the weekend Sunday afternoon against Brandeis University. Prior to the opening tip at 2:00 PM, Emory will honor its six-member senior class of Lindahl, Allison Chernow, Lindsey Tse, Benna Ames, Safiya Dzotsi and Hazel Carmona with a special on-court ceremony.