The Emory University women's basketball team remains undefeated at home after taking down the Berry Vikings 65-53 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the annual Emory Tip Off Classic in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Eagles improve to 4-1 to start the season and sit 3-0 on their home court. The Eagles were led offensively by junior Daniella Aronsky who posted 17 points on the day, 15 coming from three pointers, and seven assists. Her five three pointers mark the fifth time in her career with five or more in a game. Freshman Alexandra Loucopoulos continued her impressive start at Emory following with 10 points and going 4-5 in field goals. Junior Erin Martin showed her strength defensively posting seven rebounds, six defensive while fellow junior Morgan Laudick recorded six rebounds on the day.
Emory was able to hold the Vikings inside the perimeters allowing just six three pointers from 21 attempts. The Eagles were also better at the line going 10-15 in free throws (66.7%) compared to the Vikings going 7-13 (53.8%).
Aronsky showed up early in the first quarter giving the Eagles a 6-0 lead on back to back threes two minutes into the quarter. Berry brought the game to an 8-6 score before the Eagles were able to take a 12-6 lead thanks to three points from sophomore Lily Kennedy. Loucopoulos went on a scoring run scoring five helping Emory to a 19-11 lead at the end of the quarter.
The scoring went back and forth between the two teams early in the second quarter with Emory holding a slight 24-17 lead with 7:07 left in the half. After a three pointer from graduate student Claire Brock, the Eagles held a 29-22 lead with 4:32 left. The game was held scoreless for almost two minutes with the Vikings taking advantage of a free throw, but the effort wasn't enough and Emory took a 34-28 lead into the half.
Laudick started the third quarter strong posting back to back jump shots and two rebounds in the first five minutes of the second half. Berry brought the score to 38-34 after a three pointer, but Aronsky followed with another to widen the Eagles' lead followed by another with 1:05 left to help Emory to a 51-34 lead going into the final quarter of the game.
Berry looked to start a comeback going 8-3 in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, but Emory answered with shots of their own to hold a 60-46 lead with 4:16 left in the game. The teams went on another scoreless run until another free throw from Berry broke the streak. The Eagles were able to hold onto the lead and take the game 65-53.
The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday, November 25 to face Washington and Lee at 1 pm in Lexington, Virginia before returning home to face Atlanta-foe Oglethorpe on Tuesday, November 28 at 6 pm.