HARRISONBURG, VA. -- EMU's defense looked in fine form to open the 2013-14 season Friday night, allowing just eight second-half points in an 85-35 thumping of Chatham at the EMU Tip-Off Invitational.  The basketball women play again Saturday afternoon in Yoder Arena against Lancaster Bible College.

The Royals exploded out of the gates by scoring the first 15 points in the game in a span of just 4:09.  Chatham regrouped and limited the women's offense for the remainder of the half, but couldn't cut into the lead.  Finally a 7-2 spurt by the Cougars to close the half cut EMU's edge down to 39-27 at the break.

The visitors held even with the Royals for a few minutes in the second, getting within nine at 42-33 with 17:18 remaining.  Eastern Mennonite then turned on the defense, holding Chatham scoreless for the next 14:36.  A massive 33-0 run finally ended when the Cougars got their final score with 2:42 to play, as EMU's defense earned the big, season-opening win.

The women forced a whopping 44 turnovers, and had 23 steals, the most since the first game of the 2011-12 season.  While they only shot 40.5% from the floor, EMU added 22 offensive rebounds.

Bianca Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) had team highs of 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.  She was one of three women with a trio of picks, along with Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) and Jonae Guest (Dumfries, Va./Potomac).  Guest added 12 points in her first collegiate game, while Sykes had eight points and six boards.

Freshman Becky Barrett (Damascus, Md./Damascus) had eight points and five rebounds in her first game, and Nora Osei (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) chipped in nine counters.

Jessica Manfredi led Chatham off the bench with 11 points.  Jesse Hinkle had 11 rebounds.

The Royals turn right around to play LBC Saturday at 4:00pm, in a contest of two teams which went to the NCAA National Tournament last year.  The Chargers were 24-5 last season, and held off Penn State Fayette 68-61 in the late game Friday night at the Tip-Off Invitational.

Chatham takes on Southern Virginia at 2:00pm Saturday in the other game at the invite.