The Emory University women's basketball team defeated the Case Western Reserve University Spartans on Friday night, 83-71, with junior Daniella Aronsky having a standout game to help lead the team.
The Eagles improve to 18-5 on the season and now sit 8-4 in conference play with just two games remaining. Aronsky was a force to be reckoned with scoring 26 points on the day, a career high, with seven three pointers to tie her career high. Senior Izzy Munson also had a standout day going for 17 points, the second best of her career, and shot 3-3 from beyond the arc. Graduate student Claire Brock totaled 15 points on the day and led the team with seven rebounds, four offensive.
Brock wasted no time starting the first quarter with four points before junior Morgan Laudick answered with a three pointer of her own to give the Eagles a 7-2 lead with 7:14 on the clock. The Spartans answered with a few points on their own around the five minute mark but a layup from freshman Alexandra Loucopoulos helped the Eagles hold a 9-6 advantage with just over four minutes to go in the first quarter. CWRU tied the game at nine with a three pointer but Aronsky answered with back to back threes to give Emory a 15-11 lead. A late layup from sophomore Katherine Martini helped the Eagles to a 19-13 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The Eagles broke loose in the second quarter scoring 22 points compared to the Spartans' 18. Aronsky and Martini combined for seven points in the first five minutes to extend Emory's lead to 26-21 before a jumper from Munson at the eight minute mark widened the lead a bit more. The Spartans later looked to close the gap bringing the score to 30-25 Eagles but Emory answered with points of their own to hold onto a 34-29 advantage with 3:45 on the clock. Munson landed a three pointer in the final minute of the quarter giving Emory a 10-point 41-31 lead heading into the locker room.
The Spartans were able to outscore Emory in the third quarter going to 22 points but the Eagles were still able to hold the lead throughout the quarter. Aronsky started the half with another three pointer at the 9:47 mark before the Eagles went scoreless until later in the quarter thanks to a three pointer from Munson to give Emory a 47-35 advantage. Aronsky sank back to back threes with 3:14 on the clock widening the gap between the teams. CWRU came within seven points of the Eagles with one minute left in the quarter before Brock answered with a three pointer helped Emory to a 58-48 lead. The Spartans finished the quarter with five points giving Emory a slight 58-53 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Emory finished strong in the fourth quarter scoring 25 points to secure the win. Laudick and Munson opened the quarter with four points in the first three minutes before Laudick landed a three with 5:57 left on the clock to give Emory a 67-58 lead. Aronsky and Munson continued swapping three pointers helping to widen the game with just under three minutes in the game. After two free throws from sophomore Lily Kennedy with 1:35 on the clock, the Eagles finished out the game on an 8-7 run to secure the win.
Despite the Spartans shooting 93.3 percent form the line, the Eagles were able to outshoot CWRU in every category and held the Spartans to just 31.8 percent from beyond the arc compared to Emory's 61.9 percent.
The Eagles will travel to face the Carnegie Mellon Tartans on Sunday, February 18 at 2:00 PM in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the last Sunday UAA matchup of the season.