The Emory University women's basketball team dropped its regular season finale to the Rochester Yellowjackets 80-78 on Friday night in Atlanta, Georgia. The Eagles celebrated seniors Paige Gross and Izzy Munson and graduate student Claire Brock before tip-off.
The Eagles fall to 19-6 on the season and finish conference play with a 9-5 record. Brock put an exclamation point on her Emory career posting a double-double in the matchup going for 22 points and 10 rebounds. Munson also had an impressive day on offense posting 13 points and three assists. Junior Daniella Aronsky rounded out the scoring for Emory notching 11 points and four assists.
Rochester was able to barely outshoot the Eagles from the field going for 47.8 percent compared to Emory's 46.3 percent. Emory's defense was able to hold the Jackets to just 36.4 percent from beyond the arc while shooting 43.5 from three. The Eagles were also a perfect 6-6 from the line on Friday with three Eagles leading the way.
Munson opened the game with a bang landing a three pointer in the first 20 seconds of the matchup but Rochester was able to answer with four points to take a 4-3 lead with just under eight minutes left in the quarter. After the Jackets took an 8-5 lead, Gross joined the scoring party sinking her first three pointer of the season to tie the game at eight. The two teams went back and forth in the next two minutes with Brock leading the way for Emory tying the game at 12. Freshman Alexandra Loucopoulos and Brock sank back to back threes but the Jackets answered with a three pointer of their own to take a 23-18 lead to finish the first quarter.
Sophomore Katherine Martini started the second quarter for Emory with six points cutting the Jackets' lead to 29-24 with 7:26 left on the clock. Aronsky and Munson followed with back to back threes but Rochester continued their scoring holding a 35-30 lead over the Eagles. Aronsky later tied the game with her second three pointer of the night before free throws from junior Morgan Laudick gave Emory a 41-39 lead with 47 seconds on the clock. Brock ended the quarter with a jumper helping the Eagles to a 43-40 lead heading into the locker room.
The Eagles went on a 9-5 run in the first two and a half minutes of the third quarter holding onto their 52-45 lead. Later in the quarter, Rochester standout Rylee Drahos sank a three pointer to tie the game at 52 forcing a timeout from the Emory bench. The game was scorelss until Brock landed another three pointer followed by a layup from sophomore Lily Kennedy giving Emory a 59-54 lead with 3:32 left in the quarter. A free throw from the Jackets' offense cut Emory's lead with just over two minutes to go in the third followed by a 3-2 from Rochester giving the Eagles a slight 65-62 lead going into the final quarter.
The two teams started the fourth quarter with six points before a layup from the Jackets tied the game at 71 with 5:41 remaining in the game. After Rochester took a 73-71 lead, Aronsky made two free throws to tie the game once again. Senior Abby Gress for the Jackets went on a scoring run in the final three minutes of the game helping Rochester take a 79-76 lead with just under two minutes in the game. Munson was able to make a late layup but a final free throw from Gress ended the game 80-78.
The Eagles will turn their attention to the NCAA Selection Show set to take place on Monday, February 26 at 2:30 PM where they will find out their postseason fate.