The Emory women's basketball team battled back from a pair of second-half deficits Friday evening but fell short in a defeat on the road to Brandeis University.  The Eagles saw their overall record fall to 8-9, 1-5 in the University Athletic Association, following a 76-67 setback to the Judges who improved to 10-7 overall, 2-4 in the league.

Leading a balanced Emory scoring attack was freshman Savannah Morgan with 13 points, her fourth straight double-figure scoring outing and eighth of the year.  Junior Emily Hyncik and sophomore Misha Jackson were next up on the Eagles' scoresheet with nine points apiece with Jackson snaring a team-high nine boards.  Brandeis junior Morgan Kendrew scored a game-high 26 points and junior Amber Strodthoff totaled 13 points and 14 points in sparking Brandeis to the victory. 

Facing a 41-27 obstacle early in the second half, Emory went on a 24-9 scoring spree and took a one-point edge with 8:04 left in the game following a bucket by senior Courtney Von Stein.  Nine different Emory players scored during the run with Morgan and junior Melissa Koike each scoring four points.  After a Kelly Ethier layup put Brandeis up by a 53-51 count, the Eagles knotted the affair with 6:59 on the clock following a basket by Koike.   The Judges then regained control of the contest using a 12-1 spurt to post a 65-54 lead with 3:27 remaining.  Undaunted, Emory stayed in the game knocking down three three-pointers, two by freshman Hannah Lilly, in an 11-4 charge that cut the gap to four points with 1:07 on the clock. However, that was as close as the Eagles would get as Brandeis sank seven-of-eight from the charity stripe down the stretch in sealing the win.

Brandeis outshot Emory from the floor, connecting on 45.3 percent (24-of-53) compared to the Eagles' 35.2 percent (25-of-71).  Emory did convert nine attempts from beyond the arc, tying its second-highest total of the year, while Brandeis was successful on five.  Emory turned the ball over a season-low 11 times in comparison to the Judges' 24 miscues that helped the Eagles to a 20-13 edge in the points off turnovers category.   Brandeis did post a big 53-29 advantage in the rebounding department.

An Emory three-point field goal by Hyncik tied the game at 11-11 with 14:44 left in the first half,   but the Eagles went scoreless for a seven-minute stretch while the Judges strung together 11 unanswered points to take a 22-11 advantage.  Brandeis still enjoyed 30-18 cushion before three points by Jackson and freshman Selena Castillo drew Emory to within six points with a shade under two minutes left on the clock.  However, the Judges closed out the half on a 6-1 spurt to take a 36-25 lead heading into halftime.  Hyncik knocked down a pair of three-point field goals en route to a team-leading seven points during the opening 20 minutes of play with Jackson topping the Eagles with seven boards.  Emory hit just 25.8 percent (8-of-31) of its field goal attempts in the first half while the host Judges checked in at 37.5 percent (12-of-32).  Brandeis also finished the opening stanza with a 30-14 bulge on the glass.

Emory returns to action on Sunday (Jan. 30) when it plays at New York University in a 2:00 p.m. start