Box Score EMU's season opener was about honoring a senior while seeing the potential of the future.
The basketball women recognized Emily McCombs (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) before their first game of 2021. The lone captain on this year's team, she played in 71 games over her first three seasons and scored 509 points.
In Saturday's loss to Emory & Henry, McCombs triggered her team in a different way, assisting junior Constance Komara (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) on the team's first bucket. Komara ended with team highs of nine points and seven boards, including five off the offensive glass.
In the end, however, early season shooting jitters limited the young Royals in a 72-43 loss to EHC. The Wasps outshot the women 49% to 19% and never trailed.
Eastern Mennonite's pressure was a highlight, picking 15 steals and leading to 24 turnovers for Emory & Henry. Freshman Vanessa Gardiner (Springfield, Va./John R. Lewis) racked up five of the steals. EMU finished +9 in turnover margin.
Fellow newcomer Mya Wright (Palmyra, Va./Fluvanna County) drained all three of her three-point attempts, co-leading the team with nine points. Gardiner added eight counters while McCombs came in with seven. Kassidy Secrist (Draper, Va./Pulaski County) and Laila Glymph (Culpeper, Va./Culpeper County) each had five rebounds.
Taylor Owens led Emory & Henry with 13 points while 6-2 center Alexis Hoppers had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
EMU hits the road on Tuesday, playing at Ferrum College at 7:00pm.
Postgame interview with Coach Jenny Posey:
