PEMBROKE, NC - The women's basketball team played the first round of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship on Sunday evening.
The contest was set in Pembroke, NC as the 8 seed Lions faced the 9 seed Lees-McRae Bobcats. The Lions cruised past the Bobcats in a wire-to-wire victory, 72-57. The win extends Emmanuel's season into the second round of the playoffs, where they will face 5 seed UNC Pembroke, the host of tonight's matchup. The winner of that game will advance to the quarterfinal round on Friday, March 4 in Spartanburg, SC.
First Quarter
A three pointer by senior Allison Smith gave Emmanuel a 10-4 lead four minutes into the game. The Lions soon extended their advantage to seven, 18-11, before a pair of free throws from the Bobcats closed out the quarter with Emmanuel leading by five points, 18-13.
Second Quarter
The Lions went 6-14 (40%) from the field in the second quarter, along with a 4-6 (66%) effort from the free throw line as they once again outscored the Bobcats. Emmanuel sat down with a nine point advantage at the break, 34-25, also thanks to a strong defensive effort that held Lees-McRae to 12 points in the 10 minutes leading up to half time.
Third Quarter
The trend continued in quarter three as the Lions maintained their control of the pace. Lees-McRae initially cut their deficit to seven, but Emmanuel was leading by a baker's dozen by the end of the quarter off of 50% shooting (7-14) from the field.
Fourth quarter
Lees-McRae had their highest scoring quarter of the night in the last, putting up 17 points. However, Emmanuel matched their own best mark, finishing the fourth with 19 points thanks to 6 of 13 shooting (46.15%) and perfect free throw conversion (6-6). This resulted in Emmanuel comfortably taking the game, 72-57.
Junior Jeanetta Elder put up a career-best performance, recording 26 points and 13 rebounds for a big double-double. Sophomore Sydney Wyatt followed with 21 points of her own while adding 7 rebounds. Junior Jazmin Allen grabbed 12 boards and scored 8 points.
The victory sends women's basketball into the second round of the playoffs to face UNC Pembroke on Monday, February 28 at 5:00pm.
To follow all the postseason action from around the conference, head to conferencecarolinas.com.
For more on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.
