SALEM, VA --- The EMU basketball women have earned a trip to the ODAC Championship game for the first time since 2004, as they got past fifth-seeded Lynchburg College on Saturday, 84-77 in overtime. The top-seeded Royals had a 6-0 run early in OT to take the lead and never gave it up.
Eastern Mennonite's women are now 21-5 overall and riding a program-best 14-game winning streak. They will take on No. 2 Guilford, which defeated No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan, 75-61, in the other ODAC Semifinal game. Sunday's Championship game is at 1:00pm at the Salem Civic Center.
Steph Rheinheimer (Manheim, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) carried the women early, drilling four triples in the first half. EMU scored the final eight of the half to go up 35-31 at the break.
The spurt continued into the second, as the Royals used a 16-3 run to build a 43-34 edge. The Hornets got back within four before a 10-2 run pushed the lead to 61-49 with 8:35 left in regulation.
Lynchburg would not go away, however, as they went on a 13-3 streak to get within two points at 64-62 with 4:32 to play. EMU kept the lead but the Hornets finally tied it with a three pointer with 1:33 to play. Neither team scored again in regulation, although both had their chances. LC missed the front end of a bonus free throw with 24 seconds left, and Rheinheimer missed a three ball in the closing seconds, leaving the score locked at 69-69.
The Hornets hit a three pointer on their opening possession of overtime, taking their first lead since late in the first half. But then the Royals started attacking the basket, led by Raiven Patterson (Pulaski, VA/Pulaski County). The women scored on three straight possessions to skip ahead 75-72 and LC never caught up.
With 1:53 to play, the Hornets got within 79-77 after a single free throw. Eastern Mennonite toughened up on defense and didn't allow another score. The Royals scored the final five points to pull away for the 84-77 win.
The women shot well to make up for committing 24 turnovers. EMU hit 47% of their shots from the floor, including 5-of-13 from long range. They were also 13-19 from the free throw line and had a 41-35 rebounding edge. Lynchburg shot 40% including 5-for-22 from three point range.
Keyla Baltimore (Bristow, VA/Brentsville District) scored a new career high for the second straight game, finishing with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting. The point guard also had six rebounds and spend much of the day guarding, Shannon Allan (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley), LC's best player.
Patterson scored nine of EMU's 15 points in OT, and finished with 18 and seven rebounds. Rheinheimer came in with 16 points. Bianca Ygarza (Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) had game highs of 10 rebounds and five assists. Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, VA/Forest Park) added 10 points and six boards.
Allan finished with 17 points on 8-of-21 shooting. Lauren Penley (Pfafftown, NC/Mount Tabor) led the Hornets with 20 points and nine rebounds.