Box Score ROME, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Basketball team traveled to Rome, GA this afternoon to face Shorter University in conference play. The Hawks took an early lead in the first quarter, taking a 30-22 lead into the half. The Lions kept things close in the second half, outscoring the Hawks in the 4
th, 18-10, but Emmanuel's late run fell just short and the Hawks came away with a 61-59 win. With the loss, the Lions fall to 11-9 on the season, 6-8 in conference.
The two teams traded points and the lead early in the first quarter, with
Natalee Goff scoring a quick 5 points to make it 8-7, Hawks with 4:54 to play in the first. The Hawks pulled away with a 7-0 run to make it 15-7, Hawks with 2:34 to play in the quarter. After the first, the Lions trailed Shorter 19-7. In the first, Emmanuel shot 31% from the field, connecting on 1-4 from beyond the arc.
Lizzie Teasley and
Naomi Roberts both connected from the paint early in the second quarter to put the Lions within four points of the lead, 17-13. The Hawks answered by pushing their lead to 10 points, 23-13 with 7:29 to play in the 2
nd. A three from
Lizzie Teasley and free throws from
Naomi Roberts cut the Hawks lead to 25-20, but Shorter would close out the half strong to take a 30-22 lead into the break. The Lions shot 30% in the quarter, connecting on a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.
The Hawks pushed their lead to 12 early in the 3
rd quarter, but the
Kate Jackson and Goff each connected on layups to put the Lions back within 10 of the lead with 6:54 to play in the quarter. Midway through the quarter, the Lions went on a run, with Roberts, Goff and Jackson getting in on the action to cut the Hawks lead to seven, 47-40 with 3:14 to play in the third. The Hawks closed out the quarter strong to take a 51-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter. In the third, the Lions shot 50% from the field, connecting on 7-8 from the foul line.
The Lions came on strong in the fourth quarter behind impact plays from Jackson, Goff and Roberts to cut the Hawks lead to 55-51 with 6:39 to play. With a little over three minutes to play, a three-pointer from Teasley cut the Hawks lead to three, 57-54 and Roberts followed that up with a bucket to pull within a point of the lead, 57-56. The Lions took their first lead since the first quarter with a three-pointer from
Natalee Goff with 1:07 to play, 59-57 but the Hawks quickly tied the game and scored with a second to play to earn the 61-59 win.
Natalee Goff led the Lions with 25 points and 14 rebounds on the night.
Naomi Roberts and
Kate Jackson each scored 13 points and picked up 3 assists, with Jackson also grabbing 8 rebounds. Roberts led the team in blocked shots with 2.
Next up, the Lions will host UNC Pembroke on Saturday at 2PM. For more information on Emanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.
