Hollins vs Eastern Mennonite | Wednesday, January 3, 2024 | Roanoke, Va.
 
The Basics 
Score: Hollins 64, Eastern Mennonite 64
Records: Hollins 5-7 / 1-6 ODAC | Royals 6-8 / 1-6 ODAC

The Lead: The Hollins basketball team ushered in the New Year with a visit from Eastern Mennonite on Wednesday night. The matchup would feature four ties and 11 lead changes, going down to the final minutes. The Green and Gold trailed by five entering the fourth quarter and used a 29-14 finish to claim her first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win of the season, 74-64.

Highlights 

• The Royals raced out to a 7-0 edge before an Ariana Gutierrez three-pointer got Hollins on the board. Gutierrez hit another and after adding a pair of free throws, HU was down by just one, 11-10 after one period of play.
• Iyana Sigei hit a three and Cabria Mutz scored to stake Hollins to a 16-13 advantage with just over seven minutes left before the break. After an Eastern Mennonite rally, Mutz capped a 12-3 finish and HU lead at the half, 28-26.
• The visitors broke open a close game to claim an eight-point lead late int eh third quarter. However, a three pointer by Zaria Holden would give the Green and Gold momentum heading into the fourth, trailing by five.
• EMU once again pushed the lead to eight before Hollins began to rally. Holden scored on one of Destiny Hoover's game high eight assists. Sarah Morales scored a three-point play on the fast break and back-to-back buckets by Holden would see Hollins back in front. The game was tied at 60-60 when Noelani Carter put HU in front to stay with two free throws. Hollins closed the game on a 14-4 run to claim their first ODAC win of the season.
• Hollins shared the basketball, recording 17 assists while committing just 12 turnovers.
• Holden came off the bench to net a game high 22. Mutz registered another double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds while Morales added 16 points and seven boards, including a reverse layup in traffic to spark the rally. Mutz blocked four shots with Hoover finishing with eight helpers and two steals.

Up Next: Hollins will host Randolph-Macon on Friday night at 6:00pm as the game was moved up a day in hopes of beating the forecasted weather to the Roanoke Valley.