Turnovers mar EMU in loss at Bridgewater

  
Staff Report
EMU sports: www.emu.edu

Still trying to find a consistent offensive flow, the Eastern Mennonite women took on rival Bridgewater on the road Tuesday night. The Royals controlled the game for a spell in the second half, but then couldn’t convert on their chances and lost 51-48 to the Eagles.

Both teams struggled in the first half, as the squads combined for 25 turnovers. EMU shot just 36 percent in the first 20 minutes, but outrebounded Bridgewater 19-11 and made five of six free throws to hold a 26-25 lead at the break.

The Eagles came out strong in the second half and scored on their first two possessions to grab a 30-26 lead. An Addie Bashorun (Manassas, Va./Brentsville District) three pointer as the shot clock expired at 15:31 got the Royals rolling, however, as they scored eight straight to go back ahead 36-32.

After a Bridgewater free throw, EMU scored five more to cap a 13-1 run, making the lead 41-33. The Eagles stepped up their defensive pressure and scored 11 unanswered to back ahead 44-41. Both offenses then sputtered until Miranda Wolfe (Verona, Va./Fort Defiance) tied the game at 44-44 with a jumper at 4:16.

Scoring was sparse over the final four minutes as both teams wasted good scoring opportunities. BC’s Jordan Burkholder (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) hit a three pointer to put the Eagles ahead 47-44 with 2:45 to play. Wolfe made a pair of free throws a minute later to cut the lead to one.

After a Burkholder charge, EMU had a chance to take the lead with 38 seconds remaining, but the Eagles’ star junior stepped in front of a Royals’ pass and drew a foul. She sank two free throws with 26 seconds to go to make the score 49-46.

Looking for a triple to tie the game, Wolfe launched a rare long ball, draining it with 12 seconds to play. The senior’s toe was ruled in the line, however, leaving the deficit at one. Burkholder hit two more charity tosses with 11 seconds left and Brittany Snyder’s (Raphine, Va./Riverheads) three pointer skipped off the front of the rim at the final buzzer, leaving BC with the 51-48 win.

The Royals shot just 36 percent in the loss, but were really hurt by their 30 turnovers. Bridgewater shot 42 percent but also had 26 miscues in a sloppy game.

Snyder and Wolfe led EMU with 12 points apiece. Sara Lamneck (Swoope, Va./Buffalo Gap) had a whopping 13 rebounds, as the Royals had a 34-23 rebounding edge. Melissa Lewis (Stuarts Drafts, Va./Stuarts Draft) had game highs of seven steals and four assists.

Burkholder finished with 22 points and four steals to lead BC. Kristin Bosserman (Stuarts Draft, Va./Riverheads) was 3-4 from long range and tallied 11 points.

Eastern Mennonite slips to 12-5 overall and 8-5 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Bridgewater is now 11-6 and also 8-5 in the league. The Royals are slated to play at Emory & Henry on Friday, Feb. 5, although the game might be moved because of a forecasted snowstorm.