The Emory University women's basketball team fell 71-66 in overtime to the University of Rochester Saturday afternoon in the University Athletic Association opener. The game signaled the first UAA competition for either team in 679 days.
The Eagles saw their three-game winning streak snapped, falling to 6-4 overall (0-1 UAA) while the Yellowjackets have now won four in a row to improve to 9-3 on the season and 1-0 in league play.
Senior Anna Arato headlined four Eagles in double figures as she registered 15 points. Fellow starters Claire Brock and Tori Huggins both collected double-doubles with Brock netting 12 points to go along with a career-high 10 rebounds and Huggins totaling 10 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Erin Martin paced the Emory bench with season-highs in both points (10) and rebounds (8).
Trailing 31-28 in the second quarter, the Eagles used a 14-0 run across 3:30 minutes to grab their largest lead of the game at 42-31 before going into the break in front 42-33. Brock had 10 of her 12 points as she led all Emory scorers in the half.
The Eagles struggled shooting in the third quarter, going 3-for-20 from the floor as they saw Rochester move in front 48-47 with 1:17 remaining in the quarter. Martin and junior Mariane Auza helped Emory go into the fourth quarter with the lead however as the pair scored the final four points of the frame.
The Yellowjackets opened the fourth quarter with five straight points but would go scoreless for the next six minutes of game action as the Eagles were able to build an eight-point lead at 61-53 with 2:22 left to play in regulation.
Rochester cut the deficit to four at 61-57 before Martin converted a wide-open layup under the basket to give Emory a six-point edge with under a minute to go.
UR's Hannah Lindemuth sank a three-pointer with 26.7 showing on the clock to bring Rochester within three at 63-60. Following four straight Yellowjacket fouls, the Eagles finally reached the bonus to send Huggins to the free throw line with 15.9 with a chance to seal it.
Huggins missed both opportunities from the stripe, giving Rochester the ball with an opportunity to tie. Lindemuth once again came through for the home team, sinking another three-pointer as this one knotted the game at 63 with 10.3 seconds remaining in regulation. Brock had Emory's final chance as she mustered a shot prior to the buzzer sounding but it was off target.
The Eagles shot 1-for-11 as a team in the overtime session as Rochester outscored Emory 8-3 to earn the five-point victory. Arato scored the opening points of the extra period, draining a three-pointer inside the opening minute. Rochester was held scoreless until the 2:07 mark when Lindemuth made another shot from behind the arc and followed that with a made jumper one minute later to give UR the lead for good.
Emory returns to Atlanta for two UAA contests next weekend against Washington University and the University of Chicago. As a reminder, no fans will be permitted inside the Woodruff PE Center for either contest. WashU and Chicago matched up in the UAA opener on Saturday with the Bears defeating the Maroons, 102-97, in double overtime.