HARRISONBURG, VA --- In a matchup of two of the ODAC's most up-tempo teams, the Royals rose to the surface in an 82-74 win. Eastern Mennonite's basketball women improve to 15-3 overall and 9-1 in the conference as they also take over sole possession of first place in the ODAC.
EMU stands atop the Old Dominion Athletic Conference after Lynchburg toppled Randolph-Macon 73-62 in Ashland, leaving both of those teams a game behind the Royals at 8-2. The women also extended their home winning streak to 27 games, with their last loss in Yoder Arena on Jan. 7, 2013, against Elizabethtown.
The contest with the Marlins (12-7/6-4 ODAC) saw 13 lead changes, with many of them in the second half, helping to create one of the best atmospheres in Yoder this year. VWC started hot from outside, jumping to a 17-10 edge. EMU regrouped, but the visitors still led 40-37 at halftime.
The teams traded leads for the first nine minutes of the second half until a quick 7-0 run flipped the Royals ahead 61-55. After a pair of VWC free throws, the women scored five more to complete a 12-2 run and take a 66-57 lead with 7:34 to play.
The Marlins hit back-to-back threes to slice the cushion down to 66-63. It was a still a three-point game with 3:40 left at 70-67. That's when another mini-run from the Royals made the difference. Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) hit a layup and a Jess Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) steal turned into a three-point play for Alisa Brown (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) 16 seconds later. After Virginia Wesleyan missed on jumper, Brown drove to the hoop and scored again to cap a 7-0 spurt, building a 77-67 lead with 2:15 remaining.
EMU then iced the game by going 5-of-8 from the free throw line over the final 58 seconds.
The Royals enjoyed another good offensive outing, hitting 31 of their 62 shots for 50%. They were also 4-13 from three point range. Virginia Wesleyan shot 41% from the floor, including a hot 14-35 from outside for 40%. EMU gained a big edge at the free throw line where they were 16-24. The Marlins were only 4-7.
Rheinheimer and Sykes were again the women's two-headed monster. Rheinheimer dumped in a game high 23 points, while Sykes notched a double double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. They combined to shoot 20-for-35 from the floor.
Brown finished in double figures with 13 points to go with her five assists. Marla zumFelde (Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian) added 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks off the bench.
Brittany Glasco was a handful for VWC, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. The senior also joined the Marlins' 1000-point club during the game. Andrea Paphites had 13 points and three blocks.
Eastern Mennonite hits the road on Tuesday, playing at fourth-place Washington and Lee with a 7:00pm start.