GREENSBORO, NC -- EMU's tough non-conference start to the season is already starting to pay dividends, getting the women ready for the ODAC campaign.  Wednesday night the Royals opened their conference schedule with a key matchup at Guilford, and Eastern Mennonite led from start to finish in a 57-44 win in Greensboro, NC.

The two teams were the preseason favorites in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, with the reigning champion Quakers getting eight first-place votes and EMU taking the other four.  Fittingly, the conference opener for both teams Wednesday night was a defensive battle.  Neither team shot better than 37% from the floor, and the two combined to make just three three-pointers.

But it was the Royals who showed their toughness by scoring first and never trailing to grab the win on the road floor.  The women pounded the ball inside and jumped to a 9-2 lead.  At the same time, EMU shut down Guilford's inside game.

The Quakers finally got back within one point, but Alisa Brown (Dumfries, VA/Forest Park) capped off a 10-2 run with a triple, giving EMU their biggest lead of the half at 21-12.  Guilford got within 25-21 at the halftime break, but was saddled by 16 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

Four minutes into the second, the Royals struck a 9-2 run to get some breathing room, pushing the lead to 40-29.  The home team came back to within five points with 7:45 to go, but a 9-0 run over the next four minutes all but clinched the outcome.  Kala Yoders (Myerstown, PA/Eastern Lebanon County) capped the streak with a jumper to make it 51-37 with 3:41 to play.

Steph Rheinheimer (Manheim, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) connected on four free throws in the final minute and the defense kept GC scoreless over the final 1:22 to lock up the win.

Despite shooting just 21-of-57 from the floor for 37%, the Royals held Guilford to a chilly 29%, going 16-for-62.  Rebounds were dead even at 43-43, but EMU made the biggest difference by forcing 22 turnovers and making more free throws than GC attempted.  Eastern Mennonite finished 14-for-24 from the stripe, compared to 6-for-6 for the Quakers.

Bianca Ygarza (Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) led the women with 14 points and six rebounds while Keyla Baltimore (Bristow, VA/Brentsville District) had nine points, five rebounds and a game high three assists.  Brown finished with eight points and three steals.

Raiven Patterson (Pulaski, VA/Pulaski County) provided a spark off the bench with nine points and six rebounds.  Yoders added seven counters, five boards and three steals.

Guilford's twin towers, Morgan King (Teachey, NC/New Hanover) and 2012 ODAC Player of the Year Gabby Oglesby (Winston-Salem, NC/Mount Tabor), were limited to a combined eight points on 2-12 shooting.  Brittany Drew (Greensboro, NC/Page) led the Quakers with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but also had eight turnovers.

The Royals snap a two-game skid with the win, evening their overall record at 2-2.  After four straight games against teams which made the NCAA Tournament last year, the women next play at Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon.  The Marlins were picked third in the ODAC Preseason Poll.