#21 Women's Basketball Secures Top Division Spot With Win At Emory & Henry

MEADOWVIEW, Va. -- Catawba raced away from host Emory & Henry in the second quarter and posted an 82-69 win at the King Center on Saturday afternoon. The 21st-ranked Catawba Indians improve to 22-4 overall and 14-2 in the South Atlantic Conference, securing the top seed in the Piedmont Division. The Wasps fall to 7-17 and 4-12.

Catawba closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run over the final 2:38 to lead 27-20. The Lady Indians continued that momentum into the second quarter and zoomed to a 48-22 lead at the 3:09 mark before the half.

Catawba went to the locker room with a 51-27 edge. The Catawba Indians built as much as a 29-point advantage in the third quarter and held a 66-41 margin heading to the final quarter.

Lyrik Thorne paced Catawba with 18 points with Janiya Downs and Mary Spry each adding 10. Spry grabbed eight rebounds. Breanna Yarber and Brylee Jones each scored 15 for Emory & Henry. Hannah Spainhour chipped in with 11 points and Grace Glance pulled down 10 rebounds.

Catawba shot 48% in the win and made 8-of-21 from long range. The Wasps shot 38%, but went just 5-of-29 in the middle two quarters.

Catawba returns home for two games next week starting with Coker on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.