Newport News, VA – After a tough 3-point loss yesterday to Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC, the Apprentice Women's Basketball team was excited to come back home to the friendly confines of the Apprentice Athletic Center. Today they would welcome in the Lady Royals of Eastern Mennonite University for the 2021-2022 home opener. It would be the first time the Builders have played on their home court in over a year, and they were looking to put together a complete 4-quarter game.
Brittany Jones picked up where she left off in yesterday's game, taking the opening tip in the first quarter for a fast break layup, to take the early lead, 2-0. However, EMU would answer back tying the game with a shot from under the basket. A basket by Alena Puaauli-Pelham put Apprentice back up by 2, but the Lady Royals would come back down and take the lead 5-4. Another basket from EMU, gave them a 7-4, causing Coach Hill to take a quick timeout. Both teams came out of the timeout and traded baskets, but a 3-pointer from Alena Puaauli-Pelham tied the game at 9-9. On the defensive end of court, the Builders Kerrigan Smalls would draw 2 charges and force an EMU walk to keep the Lady Royals from setting up their offense. However, as the quarter came to an end, Apprentice found themselves down by a score of 13-10.
The second quarter began with the Lady Royals draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key and a 2-poiner from the corner to increase their to eight, 18-10. At the 7:49 mark of the quarter, their lead had increased to 10 and then 11, but a fast break layup by Brittney Jones cut the lead to signal digits, 21-12. With 6:09 left in the half, the Builders leading scorer, Brittney Jones picked up her 3rd foul of the game and Coach Hill was forced to take her out. While she would come back in the game, EMU started a run and found themselves up 28-13, with 3:24 left in the quarter. With Jones, back in the game, she would unfortunately pick up her 4th foul, allowing the Lady Royals to increase their lead to 30-13. As the half came to an end, the Lady Royals would take a 37-13 lead into the locker room.
EMU got the scoring start in the third quarter with two straight baskets That was followed by two free throws, pushing their lead to 30 points, 43-13. Unfortunately, the Builders were unable to connect on the offensive end and would find themselves trailing 47-13 at the 7:16 mark of the quarter. A jumper by Brittney Jones got the Builders on the board and on the next possession Kerrigan Smalls drew another charge to give Apprentice the ball back. Smalls would hit a FG on the other end and then, once again, draw a charge, giving the Builders the ball and a chance to cut into the lead. However, the Lady Royals were able to settle down and take their largest lead of the game, 51-20. When the buzzer sounded to end the quarter, the Builders would trail 57-28.
The first two minutes of the fourth quarter was back and forth, with both teams stepping up the defensive pressure. Two free throws by Kerrigan Smalls and a basket by Ashawnti Williams, cut the EMU lead to 57-32, forcing them to call a time out. After the time out, the Builders defense forced a turnover but were unable to capitalize at the other end. The Lady Royals would take advantage and score eleven straight points to regain the momentum. With 2:25 left in the game Brittney Jones converted on a baseline jumper, but it would not be enough, as EMU came away with the win, 76-44.
Apprentice was led on the day by Brittney Jones with 14 points followed by Ashawnti Williams with 10 points. Williams also grabbed a team high 5 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. The loss drops Apprentice to 1-1 on the season and they will have a week off until they return to action next Saturday as they welcome Bryant & Stratton College to the Apprentice Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00pm.