The Emory University women's basketball team picked up their first conference win at home on Friday night defeating the Case Western Reserve Spartans 61-55 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The No. 10 ranked Eagles improve to 13-2 on the season and now sit 3-1 in UAA action. Graduate student Claire Brock led the way for Emory scoring 15 points on the day and totaled six rebounds while freshman Alexandra Loucopoulos posted nine points, her third best this season. Emory starters were able to pick up 26 of Emory's 45 rebounds on the night with junior Erin Martin totaling seven.
CWRU got off to a hot start in the first quarter taking a 7-2 lead with 6:41 on the clock before three points from sophomore Chloe Kreusser later in the quarter brought the Eagles within two points of the Spartans. With a 15-10 lead, the Spartans made three back to back free throws to take an 18-10 lead with just over two minutes in the quarter. The Eagles went on a 4-0 run to finish the quarter and CWRU took an 18-14 lead into the second quarter.
Emory was on the hunt for revenge in the second quarter going on a 22-9 run. Five early points from Brock closed the gap bringing the score to 20-19 but the Spartans pulled away again holding onto a 25-21 lead with 6:25 remaining in the quarter. After a layup from sophomore Katherine Martini tied the game, a jumper from Loucopoulos gave the Eagles a 27-25 lead forcing a timeout from CWRU. Emory went on a 9-2 run in the final five minutes of the quarter to take a 36-27 lead into the locker room.
The third quarter was slow for both teams with the Spartans outscoring the Eagles 13-8. Back to back free throws from Loucopoulos gave Emory an 11 point lead with 6:20 left in the third quarter and CWRU answered with two of their own. Emory went scoreless for the rest of the quarter but still held a 44-40 advantage over the Spartans.
Emory started the final quarter with a 46-40 lead thanks to a layup from Martini before CWRU followed with five points of their own bringing the score to 46-45. Later in the quarter, the Spartans had six points from Kayla Characklis to give the Spartans a 51-50 lead with 4:45 on the clock. Emory was able to take advantage of fouls from CWRU's defense and took a 57-55 lead with 1:34 remaining in the game. Brock ended the game with four points and the Eagles secured the comeback win.
The Eagles saw another game with a low three point percentage shooting just 11.8 percent from beyond the arc but they were able to capitalize on a 32.3 percentage from the field. Emory also outshot the Spartans from the line going 17-21 for 81 percent compared to CWRU's 68.8 percent (11-16).
UAA play will continue on Sunday, January 21 at 2 pm for Emory where they will face the Carnegie Mellon Tartans in Atlanta, Georgia.