Bridgewater Upsets EMU to Move on to Semis

Eagles Make Four-Point Halftime Lead Stand Up

February 28, 2008  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- The only upset of the day came during the last event of the first round of action at the ODAC Women’s Basketball Tournament as Bridgewater College knocked off third-seeded Eastern Mennonite University, 51-47.  Bridgewater, now 13-13, moves on to face Randolph-Macon in the semifinals.  Eastern Mennonite bows out at 19-7 overall.

Turnovers kept the scoring down in this affair while also keeping the margin close as neither team was able to build any sustained momentum.  Eastern Mennonite coughed the ball up 25 times while Bridgewater nearly matched the Royals with 22 turnovers.

Jordan Burkholder led the Eagles with 14 points to go with five rebounds and six steals.  She made all six of her shots from the charity stripe.  Jessica Timberlake added 11 points and three takeaways.  Jolene Kratz led three Royals in double figures with 14 points to go with six rebounds.  Carolyn Riley and Melissa Lewis chipped in 11 points apiece.  Riley added eight rebounds to her stat line.

No lead was larger than five points in the first half as Bridgewater carried itself to a four-point halftime edge.  The Eagles caught a little bit of steam midway through the second half as they pushed their lead out to 10, but EMU retaliated, eventually working to within one with 1:31 to go.  A few key buckets and a pairs of free throws from Nikki Sydnor and Burkholder secured the win for BC.

Bridgewater and Randolph-Macon are set for Saturday, March 1.  Tip-off is at 3:00 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center.