HARRISONBURG, VA --- The EMU basketball women powered their way to a comfortable win at home, running by Mary Baldwin 102-38 in Harrisonburg Tuesday night.  The Royals shot 49% in a balanced attack as they stretched their home winning streak to 20 games.

Despite the high score, the women actually missed their first six shots and gave up the game's first bucket to the Fighting Squirrels.  With 8:21 left in the first half, it was just a 22-14 lead for EMU.

Jess Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) then started a barrage when she hit a three pointer.  The Royals scored on their next seven possessions and rattled off a 32-3 run over the final eight minutes of the half, ballooning to a 54-17 halftime lead.

EMU scored the first 15 points in the second and never looked back.

The Royals controlled every aspect of the game: 49% to 28% shooting, 51-34 rebounding and 29-11 turnovers.  The deep bench also showed up, giving the women 67 points.

Five players scored in double figures.  Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) was the only starter with more than eight as she charted 15 points and five rebounds.    Marla zumFelde(Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian) canned four triples en route to 14 points.  Jonae Guest(Dumfries, Va./Potomac) dumped in 13 points and six rebounds, while Myneshia Walker(Freeman, Va./Brunswick) also scored 13.  Diamond Mickle (Woodbridge, Va./Paul VI) chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Kaybria Johnson led Mary Baldwin with 18 points.  Imani Hill added eight points and nine rebounds.

The Royals are 3-1 as they prepare for the ODAC opener on Saturday.  EMU hosts Emory & Henry with a 2:00pm tipoff.

Coach Kevin Griffin talks about his team's surge late in the first half: