From Emory University Athletics

Junior Khadijah Sayyid scored 20 points to pace three double-figure scorers and the Emory women's basketball team opened Piedmont College's Cancer Awareness Tournament Monday evening with a victory over Salem College. The Eagles racked up their third straight victory and raised their overall ledger to 6-2 following a 64-54 verdict over the Spirits who slipped to 1-5.

Sayyid was successful on eight-of-15 field goal tries, including three-of-five from three-point range, en route to registering her sixth double-figure scoring performance of the campaign and fourth of 20 or more points. Junior Sarah Arington and freshman Dumebi Egbuna aided in the win with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Sayyid also made her presence felt on the glass with a game-best 12 caroms for her second double-double of the campaign, and also finished with three steals. 

Emory shot 37.1 percent (26-of-70) from the floor while Salem checked in at 37.0 percent (20-of-54). The Eagles enjoyed a 46-36 cushion in rebounding and forced 21 Spirit turnovers that they generated into 18 points.

The Eagles converted 45.7 percent (16-of-35) of their field goal opportunities during the opening 20 minutes of action in taking a 34-25 lead heading into halftime. After a three pointer by SC's Sabrina Shepherd cut an Emory lead to four points, the Eagles held Salem scoreless for a 5:40 span and built their lead to nine points, 30-21, with 3:30 left in the stanza. A bucket by sophomore Michelle Bevan with 14 ticks on the clock closed out the scoring for the half and gave Emory its nine-point advantage.

Salem stayed within striking distance of Emory during the opening minutes of the second half and trailed by just six points, 44-38, with 14:51 left in the contest. Sayyid then scored the first five points of a 7-0 Emory run, that pushed its lead to 13 points with 12:25 remaining. After a pair of charity tosses by Quantashea Lewis pulled the Spirits to within nine points, Sayyid sank a triple during an 8-0 Emory charge that boosted its cushion to 17 points, 59-42, with 6:59 left. The Spirits made one last bid, creeping to within 10 points at 62-52, but a jumper by Arington with 2:39 remaining sealed the outcome.