HARRISONBURG, VA --- A surge late in the first half snowballed into 37-2 run as the EMU basketball women slugged Shenandoah 75-41 in Yoder Arena Wednesday night.  The Royals have now won 25 straight at home as they improve to 12-3 overall and 6-1 in the ODAC.

The women struggled against the Hornets' defense for much of the first half and trailed by as many as seven points at 15-8.  A 12-0 run zipped EMU back into the game with a five-point lead.

Shenandoah eventually held a 24-22 edge with four minutes left in the half when the tide turned.  The Royals turned on the defense which translated into a 14-0 run going into halftime.

EMU ran with their 36-24 lead at the break and scored the first 11 of the second to inflate a 47-24 cushion.  SU got a bucket at the 14:06 mark at end the 25-0 run, but the women scored another 12 in row to push the lead even further to 59-26.  The 37-2 streak covered a span of 15:28.

The Hornets never recovered as they converted only three field goals in the second half and did most of their scoring in the final minutes from the free throw line against EMU's deep bench.

Eastern Mennonite statistically controlled all aspects of the game, holding a 42.6% to 26.9% shooting edge including 8-of-15 three pointers.  The women also had a +12 turnover margin and won the boards, 42-36.

Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) did most of her damage in the first and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.  Jess Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) finished with 10 points and seven boards.  Alicia Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) scored seven points while Diamond Mickle (Woodbridge, Va./Paul VI) had seven rebounds and six points.

Erin French led Shenandoah with 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Royals, who are tied with Randolph-Macon atop the ODAC standings, travel to Roanoke College on Saturday with a 1:00pm tip against the Maroons.