The Basics
Score: Roanoke 74 | Emory & Henry 62
Records: Maroons 3-1 / 1-1 ODAC | Wasps 1-4 / 1-3 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.
The Lead: For the first time this season, the Roanoke College women's basketball team defended her home floor in the Cregger Center. After defeating Emory & Henry back on January 24 in a non-conference matchup, the Maroons looked to pick up an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win on Thursday night. A 24 point second quarter allowed the Maroons to open up a double digit lead that they would hold throughout the evening in picking up the 74-62 home win.
How it Happened:
- Renee Alquiza hit a three-pointer on Roanoke's first possession to give the Maroons the early lead. Alquiza would add another jumper to push the early advantage to 7-2.
- Emory & Henry would answer with a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the contest, 8-7, with 4:30 to play in the opening period. It would be the first of eight lead changes in the first half.
- A Josie Salyer triple made it 13-11 Wasps with just over two minutes to play.
- Roanoke would answer with a Sayre Brandstatter three-pointer and when Kristina Harrel scored a layup right before the horn, the Maroons had built a 17-13 edge heading into the second frame.
- Brandstatter would hit one of two free throws before an 8-0 run by the Wasps gave the visitors their largest lead of the game, 21-18.
- With just over eight minutes before the half, back-to-back three-pointers by Brandstatter and Whitney Hopson would surge the Maroons in front, never to trail again.
- Leading 34-30, Roanoke would end the half on a 7-0 run thanks to another Alquiza three-pointer and baskets by Hopson and Jayla Faison.
- RC would grow the lead to 14 before a 5-0 Wasps burst would see the quarter end in a tie with the Maroons holding an 11 point edge heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
- With 6:30 to play, Rose Sande buried a long range jumper to give the home team their largest lead of the night, 70-52.
- Emory & Henry wouldn't go away as they quickly trimmed the RC advantage to 10 with just over four minutes on the clock.
- Down the stretch, Morgan Micallef would score back-to-back baskets in the paint to pull away and hang on to the double digit win.
- Brandstatter led all scorers with 15 while Micallef added 13 and Alquiza finished with 12. Harrel, Alquiza, and Micallef each grabbed five rebounds with Hopson handing out six helpers.
- Alexis Hoppers led a trio of Wasps in double figures with 12 and grabbed a team high five boards.
Up next: Roanoke will head back out on the road this weekend when the Maroons travel to Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday for 2:00pm tip with the Marlins.
