DOYLESTOWN, PA --- Coaches often speak about getting their team to play a complete 40-minute game.  The EMU women failed to do that Saturday afternoon, giving up a double-digit lead in a 68-63 loss at Delaware Valley.

The Royals scored first in the game and led by as many as 17 points in the first 20 minutes.  At halftime, EMU held a comfortable 40-25 lead over the Aggies.

But everything changed in the second half.  Delaware Valley scored on five of their first seven possessions to trim the lead down to 44-36.  Eastern Mennonite pushed the edge back into double figures, and still led 51-38 when Raiven Patterson (Pulaski, VA/Pulaski County) made a free throw with 13:02 to go.

The Aggies then scored the next seven points to get within six.  They tied the score at 56-56 and finally got their first lead with two free throws to make it 58-56 with 5:16 to play, capping a 20-5 run.

Keyla Baltimore (Bristow, VA/Brentsville District) re-tied the game with a layup, but Delaware Valley kept the streak going, leading by as many as 68-61.  The Royals couldn't buy a bucket down the stretch and succumbed to the five-point defeat.

Delaware Valley out-scored EMU 43-23 in the second half, including 20-7 over the final 8:58.

Eastern Mennonite shot 44% in the first half, but made only 22% in the second.  The Aggies reversed that stat, going 28% in the first and 63% in the second.  The Royals did have a sizeable 55-43 rebounding advantage, including 23 offensive boards, but were undone by the poor shooting.  The women were also only 2-for-17 from three-point range.

Bianca Ygarza (Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) had a double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.  Patterson charted 11 points and was one of four women with six rebounds.

Alisa Brown (Dumfries, VA/Forest Park) had nine points, six boards and a career high six steals.  Baltimore racked up nine rebounds and seven assists.

The non-conference loss leaves EMU at 4-4 at the close of the tough first half of the season.  After a two-week break for Christmas, the Royals play again on Dec. 29 at Cairn, which was formerly known as Philadelphia Biblical University.