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Emory juniors Savannah Morgan and Hannah Lilly each scored 17 points and the Eagles rallied from an 18 point first-half deficit as the squad opened the University Athletic Association portion of the schedule Saturday afternoon with a victory at the University of Rochester.  Emory boosted its overall record to 11-1 following a 73-67 double-overtime decision over the Yellowjackets who fell to 8-4.   The Eagles' overall slate represents the best 12-game start in school history.

Emory posted an effort of 40 percent from the field (30-of-75) while UR checked in at 38.3 percent (23-of-60).  Neither team found the range consistently from three-point range with the Eagles hitting at a 25 percent clip (4-of-16) vs. 20 percent (4-of-20) for the host Yellowjackets.   Though Rochester recorded a hefty 54-38 margin in rebounding, it has hampered by poor free throw shooting, sinking just 17-of-31 attempts from the stripe, as well as turnovers where its 30 miscues led to 21 Emory points.

Things started out shaky for the Eagles with Rochester using a 10-0 burst over a 3:32 stretch to extend an eight-point lead into a 28-10 bulge with 6:27 left in the first half.  Undaunted, Emory closed out the stanza on an impressive 14-2 blitz, with Lilly and Misha Jackson accounting for eight and four points, respectively, to cut the deficit to six points, 30-24, heading into the intermission.

Rochester built its lead to nine points early in the second half and still maintained a six-point advantage, 48-42, with 8:47 left on the clock following a bucket by Amy Woods.  Trailing by a 49-46 count, Emory used back-to-back baskets by Morgan to take its first lead of the afternoon, with 5:50 remaining.  It was part of a stretch that saw Morgan score eight of the team's 12 points over a 5:20 span with her last field goal allowing Emory to take a 58-55 lead with 1:10 left.  However, UR knotted the affair when Jackie Walker drained a triple with 42 ticks on the clock.  The Eagles had the final shot of regulation but their attempt was blocked in the waning moments. 

In the first overtime, a put-back by Morgan followed by a field goal by senior Danielle Landry staked Emory to a 65-61 lead with 2:17 remaining.   A basket by UR's Danielle McNabb with 1:56 on the clock cut the Eagles' margin in half and following a couple of Emory turnovers, the Yellowjackets were able to tie the game with 16 seconds left when McNabb sank a pair of free throws.   Emory had a couple of shot opportunities to secure the win but misfired on both.

The second overtime belonged to Emory as it scored the first eight points of the session and held Rochester scoreless until there was 10 seconds.  Jackson got things started with a bucket and junior Selena Castillo hitting a three pointer to extend the margin five points.  A pair of charity tosses by Landry followed by one by Lilly sealed the outcome for the Eagles.   Jackson totaled 14 points and Landry closed out the squad's double-figure scorers with 13 points along with a team-best nine rebounds and five steals. 

Emory returns to action next Friday (Jan. 11) when it hosts No. 3-ranked Washington University.