Concord Ends 2023 Slate Against Emory & Henry

Concord Stats – Emory & Henry Stats – Live Video – Live Stats – Complete Game Notes
 
ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team hosts Emory & Henry in a non-conference contest to round out its 2023 schedule Friday at 11:00 a.m. inside the Carter Center.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will provide live video and statistics for Friday's game.
 
LIVE VIDEO
 
LIVE STATS
 
SERIES HISTORY
CU leads 1-0
 
ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST EMORY & HENRY
January 2, 2023: Concord 81 – Emory & Henry 70 (Emory, Va.)
 
CONCORD AT A GLANCE
2023-24 Record: 4-5
MEC Record: 2-2
Home Record: 2-2
Away Record: 2-2
Neutral Record: 0-1
 
CRASHING THE GLASS
While entering Friday second in the Mountain East Conference in team rebounding, the Mountain Lions sit at third in the conference in offensive rebounding, as well as 12^th in Division II. CU has hauled in double-digit offensive rebounds in all nine games played this season and has recorded more than 20 offensive rebounds in two of their last three contests. While being ranked 12^th nationally as a team, sophomore forward Abbie Smith ranks 12^th individually in Division II averaging 4.4 offensive rebounds per game, which leads the MEC. Because of its offensive rebound production, Concord has been able to convert double-digit second chance points in all but two games in 2023-24.
 
TAKE IT AWAY
The Mountain Lions have come away with 35 steals over their last two games played and have notched double-digit steals in six of nine contests this winter. Two players have recorded new career-highs during the stretch, including junior guard Skylar Davidson's six steals at UVa.-Wise and graduate guard Nakaila Gray's six steals against Frostburg State. Senior guard Jaisah Smith set a new season-high of four steals against Frostburg State. CU ranks third in the MEC averaging 12.0 steals per game, also good for 30^th nationally. Davidson sits at fifth in the conference individually, as she leads the Mountain Lions with 2.4 steals per game.
 
CONVERSION PRODUCTION
With steals being plentiful, CU has been able to convert its turnovers into points on the other end. In the month of December, the Mountain Lions have scored 70 points off turnovers over just three games.  Over half of Concord's offensive production during the three-game stretch (51.1 percent) has come from points off turnovers or second chance points. Last season against Emory & Henry, CU scored 35 points off turnovers and were able to convert 13 second chance on 11 offensive rebounds. J. Smith led the Mountain Lions with four offensive rebounds in that game, with A. Smith also grabbing three offensive boards.
 
AT THE LINE
Over the last four games, Concord has attempted at least 20 free throws per game and has converted 70 percent of its tries (70-for-100). At least one Mountain Lion has made six free throws in all four games, and CU has notched 80 percent from the line in two of those contests. Graduate guard Alexis Phillips leads qualified Mountain Lions shooting .833 (20-for-24) from the line, followed by J. Smith (.700) and A. Smith (.681). Emory & Henry is holding teams under 20 attempted free throws per game this season and opponents are only making 64.8 percent of free throws against them.
 
STARTING THE SERIES
Last year's matchup between the Mountain Lions and the Wasps at the King Center was the first between the two schools in women's basketball. CU grabbed a commanding lead in the opening quarter, shooting 70.5 percent from the floor and charging out to a 31-12 lead after 10 minutes of play and eventually closed out an 81-70 Mountain Lions victory. In the game, CU swiped 21 steals, breaking the single-game team steals record. J. Smith led the charge, collecting a team-leading seven steals, followed by senior guard Maddie Ratcliff and graduate guard Jazz Blankenship coming away with three steals each. Eight different Mountain Lions recorded steals in the game. A. Smith and Ratcliff led CU with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
21 – CU steals, a program record, against Emory & Henry last season
52 – Bench points scored by CU in last year's game at Emory & Henry
89 – Points away from 1,000 career points for Jaisah Smith
 
EMORY & HENRY AT A GLANCE
2023-24 Record: 5-5
SAC Record: 1-3
Home Record: 2-1
Away Record: 2-4
Neutral Record: 1-0
 
SCOUTING THE WASPS
The Wasps are led offensively by sophomore forward Breanna Yarber (14.9 points per game) and junior forward Emma Santoro (13.4 points per game).  Santoro also leads the team in rebounds per game (5.9) and steals per game (1.9). Yarber was the leading scorer when CU and E&H met last season, recording 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Junior guard/forward Gracyn Hall heads the long-range attack for Emory & Henry, averaging 1.2 three-pointers per game on 38.7 percent shooting. On the sideline, E&H assistant coach Jacqueline Kestner played for Concord from 2011-2015. Kestner averaged 8.0 points per game and earned MEC All-Second Team honors her senior season. Emory & Henry is coming off of a come-from-behind 76-72 victory on Wednesday against UVa.-Wise, where the Wasps outscored the Cavaliers 30-10 in the fourth quarter.