HARRISONBURG, Va. – Eastern Mennonite, ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Sports Top 25, took a double-digit lead in the first seven minutes Tuesday night and the Royals went on to defeat Bridgewater College, 89-43, in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) women's basketball action.

Bridgewater (9-8, 4-5 in the ODAC) scored first on a jumper by Jessica Lam, but Shakeerah Sykes scored the next four points to put EMU on top 4-2. Cassidy Burkholder made two free throws for the Eagles to tie the score before two foul shots by Sa'Mone Moore put the Royals ahead to stay.

Jess Rheinheimer scored from inside and Moore added a 3-pointer to push the Royals' lead to 11-4. After Bridgewater's Jessalyn Monday kissed a short jumper off the glass for two, EMU scored the next 10 points to lead by double figures. Sykes and Rheinheimer each knocked down a short jumper and Alisa Brown added a 3-pointer, giving EMU an 18-6 lead with 13:46 left in the opening half. Myneisha Walker capped the 10-0 run with a long 3-ball, making the score 21-6.

After a jumper by Burkholder, a 7-0 spurt by the Royals pushed the margin to 20 points.

Burkholder was the only Bridgewater player to reach double figures as she scored 13 points.

Rheinheimer led four Royals in double figures with 17 points. Moore scored 14 points and Sykes added 12.  Maria zumFelde came off the bench to score 10.

Eastern Mennonite (14-3, 8-1 in the ODAC) held a 46-32 edge on the glass with Sykes leading the way with 10 rebounds. Burkholder paced the Eagles with eight boards.

Bridgewater shot just 26.2 percent from the floor, making just 17-of-65 shots. The Royals shot a blistering 56.7 percent as they connected on 34-of-60 shots. EMU also was hot from beyond the arc where they made 8-of-17 from 3-point range for 47.1 percent.

The Eagles return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Emory & Henry College. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.