The No. 9 ranked Emory University women's basketball team overcame a slow start to knock off University of Rochester, 65-59, in the opener of the University Athletic Association on Saturday in Rochester, New York.
Nine different Eagles found the scoring column led by freshman Tatum Olson's team-leading 14 points as Emory bounced back following its first defeat of the season to improve to 11-1 on the year. Olson grabbed seven rebounds and was joined in double figures by senior Chloe Kreusser who had 10 points and nearly missed a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Mia Strazza added nine points while junior Mary Mullinax and Alexandra Loucopoulos each netted eight points.
A first quarter in which the Eagles shot 3-for-18 from the floor including 0-for-6 from three-point range saw the Yellowjackets jump out to the early edge, boasting a 13-8 lead at the end of 10 minutes. However, the Eagles found their footing in the second period as they scored the first six points of the quarter to grab their first lead of the game and outscored UR 18-8 at the start to move in front by eight points at 26-18. The Yellowjackets countered with an unanswered run to level the score at 26 but the Eagles were able to close the stanza strong and take a 36-33 lead into the break.
Mullinax led the charge in the third as she scored all eight of her points in the quarter to help the Eagles outscore the Yellowjackets, 16-14, and take a five point lead into the fourth.
The score remained close midway through the fourth with Emory leading 60-56 with 2:55 remaining. With 1:10 left, the score remained the same with Olson coming up with a big time rebound on a wide open three-point attempt. On the next possession, Kreusser picked up one of her team-leading three steals to lead to Strazza fast-break bucket on the other end. Strazza earned an and-one opportunity but missed the free throw however Kreusser grabbed one of her six offensive rebounds to burn move seconds off the clock.
Neither team could connect on a field goal in the closing moments and traded free throws the rest of the way. Loucopoulos and Olson both knocked down their attempts to clinch the road win for the Eagles.
Emory held Rochester to 1-for-16 from beyond the arc while both teams shot 37 percent from the floor.
The Eagles will remain on the road next weekend, traveling north once more to face Brandeis on Friday before No. 1 ranked NYU on Sunday.
