HARRISONBURG, VA --- The sign of a good team is still getting a win even on an off night.  The EMU basketball women showed that sign Tuesday night, using a late push to get by rival Bridgewater College at home, 78-70.

Eastern Mennonite improves to 18-4 with the win, their ninth in a row, and maintains sole possession of first in the ODAC at 12-1.  The Eagles slip to 7-14 overall and 5-8 in the ODAC.

Similar to the teams' earlier meeting in Bridgewater, the Eagles came out firing on all cylinders.  They shot 50% in the first half and led by as many as eight points and EMU struggled with foul trouble.  But the Royals scrapped their way back to a halftime tie at 39-39.

The rivals traded leads early in the second, with BC up 57-54 with 11:20 to play.  After an EMU free throw, Alisa Brown (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) changed the complexion of the game with a huge steal and three point play on the resulting layup.  Brown put the Royals in front 58-57 with 10:14 to go, and they wouldn't give the edge up.

Steph Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) hit a layup to cap a 9-0 run, making the score 63-57.  The Eagles got back within three points, but EMU stayed on top and iced the decision by hitting 6-of-8 free throws over the final 56 seconds.

Eastern Mennonite made the biggest difference by out-shooting BC 54% to 39% in the second half, and forcing 20 turnovers compared to just 13 of their own.  The Royals were also 5-11 from three point range.

Keyla Baltimore (Bristow, Va./Brentsville District) scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half to lead the Royals.  She also had five assists.  Rheinheimer nailed three triples and scored 14.  Brown finished with 12 points, while Becky Barrett (Damascus, Md./Damascus) had a team high six rebounds.  Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) added eight points, five rebounds and three steals.

Holly Morgan led Bridgewater with 22 points, with 18 of those in the first half.  Heather Cantrell had 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Royals are now 9-0 at home, and have won their last 16 games in Yoder Arena, dating back to last season.  They host Roanoke this Saturday at 2:00pm.  The Maroons are the only ODAC team to have beaten EMU this season, a 69-65 decision on Jan. 11 in Salem.