ROANOKE, Va.- EMU Women's Basketball traveled to Roanoke with a goal of ringing in 2024 with a victory against Hollins. However, the Green and Gold outscored the Royals 29-14 in the fourth quarter to send EMU home with a 74-64 conference loss.

Brii Redfearn had her best shooting night of the season, scoring 18 points with nine rebounds, just one board shy of a double-double as well as three points off her career high of 21. Kayla Surles also scored in double figures against her former team, adding 12 points to the Royal effort. Trinity Washington chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Zaria Holden led the Green and Gold of Hollins with 22 points, followed by Sarah Morales at 16 points and Cabria Mutz contributing 14 points.

Records: EMU 6-8, 1-6 ODAC | Hollins 5-7, 1-6 ODAC

Highlights
First Quarter
Redfearn started the game red-hot, scoring EMU's first six points in quick succession.  For Hollins, Ariana Gutierrez countered with two three-pointers and tallied eight of their 10 points in the quarter. The Royals, however, held the tenuous 11-10 lead through 10 minutes.

Second Quarter
Both teams came to life offensively in the second quarter. Starting at the 7:00 mark, the Royals went on a 10-0 scoring run that began with a Jayla Gray field goal, followed by a Surles three-pointer and free throw and a pair of Redfearn buckets to give EMU a 23-16 advantage. The Green and Gold responded with a 12-3 run over the final two-and-a-half minutes of the first half to grab the 28-26 halftime lead.

Third Quarter
EMU owned the third quarter, outscoring Hollins 24-17 in that frame. Gray put up the Royals' first four points of the second half on a pair of free throws and a layup to tie the game at 30. Redfearn that gave EMU the lead with a step-back jumper. After Hollins took back the lead at 34-33, EMU mustered a 7-1 scoring run in less than a minute with baskets from Washington, Surles, and Jeriyah Osborne. A flurry of free throws late in the quarter put EMU out front 50-45 after 30 minutes.   

Fourth Quarter
The game got away from the Royals in the fourth quarter. EMU got their biggest lead of the contest when a Mya Hamlet three-pointer made the score 56-48. However, Hollins' offense ignited with a 12-2 scoring run spanning 2:37 of game action to draw within two of EMU. The Green and Gold took the lead for good with 4:29 remaining and never looked back.  

Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Redfearn (18)
Rebounds: Redfearn (9)
Assists: Hamlet, Surles, Washington (2)
Steals: Washington (3)

What's Next
The EMU Women's Basketball team will have little time to rest as they hit the road again on Friday, Jan. 5 for a showdown with ODAC foe Randolph. The game was moved up a day due to an inclement weather forecast for Saturday. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m.

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