The Emory University women's basketball team opens its 32nd season of University Athletic Association competition Saturday afternoon when it plays hosts to the University of Rochester. Tip is slated for 2:00 PM EST inside the Woodruff PE Center in Atlanta.
Emory Eagles (9-2, 0-0 UAA)
The Eagles have rattled off four straight wins, upping their season win-loss ledger to 9-2 with all nine victories coming by 10 points or more. The team's 17.9 margin of victory is third among UAA schools and ranks 25th nationally. The Eagles also find themselves 10th among the Division III ranks in scoring defense (as of Jan. 7), holding opposing teams to 50.5 points per game while shooting 32.5% from the field (28th-best mark in DIII).
Sophomore Tori Huggins has reached double figures in scoring in five straight games, including her last four as a member of the starting lineup, and enters the weekend as Emory's leading scorer with 12.7 points per game. Huggins has also been aggressive on the glass, ranking third in the conference at 8.4 rebounds per game, and leads the team with four double-doubles.
As a team, the Eagles rank 19th in the country with a 44.1% field goal percentage while scoring 68.5 points per contest. Emory has finished with a better field goal percentage in all nine wins and have held opposing schools to under 41 percent shooting in all 11 contests.
Head Coach Misha Jackson has compiled an overall record of 41-21 during her three seasons at the helm and is joined on staff by Sammi Goldsmith and Chuck Melito.
More Eagle Notes
Senior Erin Lindahl, one of three Eagles averaging double figures in scoring, moved into 14th place all-time with 889 points and needs just 11 more to move into a tie with Coach Jackson for 13th…Senior Lindsey Tse leads the Eagles with 32 assists, which places her second all-time in school history with 439 dimes, trailing only Savannah Morgan's career total of 526…Junior Blair Ripley is 63rd in the country with 21 blocked shots and is just five rejections away from tying Whitney Martin for fourth on the school's all-time list with 87.
Rochester Yellowjackets (6-5, 0-0 UAA)
The Yellowjackets are coming off a 81-53 victory over local rival RIT Tuesday evening and brings a 6-5 record into the first UAA matchup of the year. Rochester features four scorers averaging 10 points or more in a well-balanced offense, led by sophomore Julianna Okoniewski's 12.1 points per game to go along with 6.7 rebounds per game. Freshman Hannah Lindermuth is second on the team in both points (11.5) and three pointers made (19) while senior Lauren Foley leads the team with 33 made from distance, ranks 14th in DIII with her 47.1% from three and is third on the team with 10.8 PPG.
UR is patrolled on the sidelined by Head Coach Jim Scheible who is in his 21st season with the team, compiling an overall record 384-175 during his tenure. He is joined on staff by Lindsey Burke and Kelsey Poplawski.
Series Record
The Eagles swept the season series for the first time since 2013 last year, topping the Yellowjackets 70-52 on the road before besting UR by 24, 78-54, in the regular season finale in Atlanta. The two victories brought the all-time series to 35-26 in favor of Rochester, however, Emory holds a 17-15 edge all-time at home.