HARRISONBURG, VA --- It was a successful start to the year for EMU's basketball women, as they scored on their first possession and never looked back in a 78-54 win over Penn State-Altoona at the EMU Tip-Off Classic in Harrisonburg.  The Royals pushed their home winning streak to 31 games as they prepare to face fellow power Capital University on Saturday.

The Crusaders, who have been to 15 NCAA National Tournaments since 1985, beat Bridgewater 67-49 in the other game of the classic.  Eastern Mennonite and Capital, who both received votes in the preseason national polls, will play at 4:00pm tomorrow.

All-American Jess Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) got things rolling with a layup 18 seconds into the game and the team took over from there, as EMU bolted to a 9-0 lead on Penn State-Altoona.  Rheinheimer ended up on the bench with two fouls later in the first period, but the defense didn't let up.  Myneshia Walker (Freeman, Va./Brunswick) hit a three pointer late in the frame as the Royals led 20-8 after one.

A 5-0 run late in the second period pushed EMU's lead to 20.  The Lions got a pair of free throws to settle the halftime score at 42-24.

The cushion wouldn't get any smaller over the final two periods, as Eastern Mennonite rolled to the 24-point win.

The defense held Penn State-Altoona to just 2-17 shooting over the first 10 minutes and 19.4% for the first half.  Throw in 18 steals and a massive 60-35 rebounding advantage, the Royals were not threatened.

Sa'Mone Moore (Covington, Va./Covington) led a balanced attack with 15 points while freshman Lindsey Krisak (Alexandria, Va./Edison) canned a trio of threes en route to 13 points in her collegiate debut.  Rheinheimer finished with nine points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Jonae Guest (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) hauled in a career high 11 rebounds.  Point guard Alicia Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) had five assists, five boards, four steals and no turnovers.

Alexis Stitt led the Lions with 19 points and five assists.  Megan Wheeler added 16 with three blocked shots.