Girls Basketball – Clutch free throws down the stretch key as Hornets beat Dieruff 47-41 for second win of season.


RECAP — Emmaus converted 6-of-6 free throws in the last minute of play in Saturday’s afternoon non-league game at Dieruff as the Hornets held off a late charge by the Huskies for a 47-41 win.

Junior Kayla Griffith was 4-for-4 from the line down the stretch, while classmate Alyssa Burkhart drained both of her attempts from the charity stripe to give Emmaus breathing room late in the game as Dieruff was mounting a comeback.

Griffith finished the game with a career-high 14 points — 10 coming in the first half — while Burkhart scored all 12 of her points in the second half for the Hornets who posted their second consecutive win in improving to 2-6 on the season.

Junior Brooke Wunderler also had a solid game and matched Griffith for team honors with 14 points.

Dieruff, which dropped to 2-7 on the season, was led in scoring by Makenzi Rupp who had a team-high 11 points. Teammate Kalis Collazo added 10 and Jadalyn Urena had 9.

The Hornets led 15-12 after one quarter and took a 24-20 lead into halftime with Griffith (10 points) and Wunderler (8) combining for 18 of the team’s points. Emmaus maintained a six-point lead (33-27) heading into the final quarter as Burkhart scored 7 points in the third quarter, and the Hornets never relinquished the lead the rest of game.

Emmaus will look to extend its win streak to three games when they return to action after the New Year travelling to Stroudsburg at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 3.

To keep up to date with the team, follow on twitter @Emmaussports.

Emmaus – Kayla Griffith 3 6-8 14, Alyssa Burkhart 4 3-5 12, Brooke Wunderler 5 2-2 14, Gabrielle Martin 2 0-1 4, Anne Glowacki 0 0-2 0. Subs: Bianca Rollins 0 1-2 1, Marah Sisonick 0 0-0 0, Steph Klemick 1 0-3 2. Totals: FG 15, FT 12-23, 3s (5 – Griffith 2, Wunderler 2, Burkhart)

Dieruff – Raven Marks 1 4-12 6, Makenzi Rupp 4 3-4 11, Kalis Collazo 5 0-1 10, Jadalyn Urena 4 1-2 9. Subs: Destiny Smith 1 2-2 4 Samaly Catala 0 0-0 0, Jaydalise Cartagena 0 0-0 0, Deona Davis 0 1-2 1. Totals: FG 15, FT 11-23, 3s (0).

Em – 15 – 9 – 9 – 14 – 47

Die – 12 – 8 – 7 – 14 – 41

JV – Die 37-36