Waleska, GA - In a nail-biter of a basketball contest, the Reinhardt University women's basketball team were edged out by the Johnson University Royals with a close final score of 64-61 on Wednesday night. This high-stakes encounter was pivotal for both teams as they were tied for second place in the AAC standings prior to the game.
The Eagles, who played host at their home court in Waleska, Georgia, saw a tough matchup against the Royals in this critical AAC conference game. The first half concluded with a slim lead for Reinhardt, sporting a halftime score of 33-31. However, the visiting Royals managed to outscore the Eagles in the second half, ultimately clinching the win with a three-point advantage at the buzzer.
Noelle Lavery led Reinhardt with an impressive performance, netting 19 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Julia Craft also contributed significantly with 16 points and 4 rebounds. Other notable performances included Lana Van Dyke and Haley Johnson, who each added 8 points, and I'ziah McCutchins who rounded out the scoring with 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 6 assists.
The result puts the Eagles at a 17-7 record for the season, holding a 13-5 conference score, while Johnson advances to 20-4 overall and tops AAC standings at 15-3 at #2. As Reinhardt looks ahead, they prepare to face Union College at home this upcoming Saturday, February 8th in another conference tilt.
