WALTHAM, Mass. - The Emory University women's basketball team scored 12 points in just over two minutes on four-straight 3-pointers, turning an eight-point deficit into a four-point lead as the visiting Eagles stunned the host Brandeis University Judges, 75-65, in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest in Red Auerbach Arena today. With the win, Emory improves to 9-7, 2-3 in the UAA, while Brandeis falls to 9-6, 2-3 UAA.
Brandeis led by as many as 13 points in the second half and were ahead, 57-48, after a jumper by sophomore guard Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./Barnstable) jumper with 5:43 left in the contest. After Emory called a 30-second timeout, rookie center Danielle Landry (Vienna, Va./James Madison) hit a lay-up. Judge junior forward Amber Strodthoff (DePere, Wisc./DePere) hit one-of-two free throws on the next possession to put the lead at 58-50.
Emory put on their big push at that point, holding Brandeis scoreless over the next 3:59 while finding their own range from downtown. Junior guard Courtney Von Stein (Trafalgar, Ind./Indian Creek) connected on the Eagles' next two possessions, trimming the deficit to two. With full-court pressure on, Von Stein got a steal and fed sophomore Sally Peterson (Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun), who hit from the corner to give EU the lead for good, 59-58, with 3:14 on the clock. Senior Keenan Whitesides (Wilmington, N.C./New Hanover) added a trifecta after another Brandeis miscue to give the Eagles a four-point lead. Emory pulled away by hitting 11-of-13 from the line over the final two minutes, as the Judges were only able to hit one late 3-pointer as their only field goal over the final five-plus minutes. Brandeis missed eight of their final nine shots and committed four turnovers in the late-going.
The Judges were paced by Kendrew, who finished with a career-high 19 points. She scored 12 in the first half as Brandeis established a 35-24 lead at the break. Kendrew also matched her career-high with eight rebounds. Senior guard Lauren Rashford (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro) provided 15 points off the bench, a season-high. Strodhoff led all players with 11 rebounds and had three assists to pace the Judges.
Emory was led by Von Stein, who finished with 18 points, eight coming in the final five-minute stretch. She hit five-of-seven overall, including five-of-six from behind the arc, and three-of-four from the line. Whitesides finished with 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while sophomore Becca Feldman (North Potomac, Md./Wooton) and senior Whitney Martin (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) had 11 each. Three Emory players tied for game-high honors with three assists each. After struggling to find their range in the first half, shooting 28 percent overall (9-32) and 36 percent from downtown (4-11), the Eagles connected on 52 percent from the floor (15-29) and 64 percent from range (7-11) in the second stanza.
Brandeis is back in action next Friday evening with another UAA contest against Case Western Reserve University at 6 p.m., while the Eagles host Chicago at the same time.