BRIDGEWATER, VA --- All good things come to an end, and Wednesday night saw the end of EMU's 10-game winning streak over rival Bridgewater. The Eagles used a dominating stretch in the third period to take the lead, and then held off a persistent push from Eastern Mennonite's women in a 70-66 final in Bridgewater.
While the Royals' first loss to BC since the 2010-11 season was painful, the effect on the ODAC standings was more meaningful.
EMU slides to 13-6 overall and 6-5 with the loss, putting them in a four-way tie with Bridgewater, Washington and Lee, and Virginia Wesleyan for fourth place in the ODAC. Randolph-Macon and Roanoke sit just one game back of the group at 5-6. That fourth position is key as the top four teams in the league standings earn first round byes into the quarterfinals of the upcoming ODAC Tournament.
The Royals have a huge test at home this Saturday, hosting first-place Guilford at 1:00pm in Yoder Arena. EMU gave the Quakers (10-1) their only ODAC loss this season, 66-51, in Greensboro, N.C., on Jan. 9.
Both Eastern Mennonite and Bridgewater had small leads in Wednesday night's first two periods. The Royals led by as many as seven before holding just a 34-32 edge at half.
The Eagles scored on their first five possessions of the third period, including twice after offensive rebounds, to surge ahead 43-36. Jess Rheinheimer's (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) triple got EMU within 46-45, but BC closed the frame on a 12-2 tear to build a 58-47 cushion.
The margin was still at 11 with six minutes left in the game before a 6-0 run made things interesting. Rheinheimer knocked in another three ball with slice it to 63-59 with 3:10 to go. Bridgewater couldn't score on their next possession, but managed to grab two offensive rebounds to waste a minute and a half of the clock and slow EMU's momentum.
A pair of single free throws pushed BC's lead up to 65-59 with less than a minute to go, but Myneshia Walker (Freeman, Va./Brunswick) drilled a three from the right wing to finally make it a single possession game at 65-62.
Jessi Strom made a pair of free throws for the Eagles, before Jazmine Carter (Fairfax, Va./Oakton) answered with a bucket and a foul with 27.7 left. The sophomore missed the free throw to leave the score at 67-64. Alicia Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) then grabbed onto the rebound, but she was quickly tied up and the possession arrow pointed BC's direction to squelch what would have been the easiest path to a comeback for EMU.
Jessica Lam made two charity throws with 23.8 left, and Sa'Mone Moore (Covington, Va./Covington) missed a three and a follow-up layup to seal the Royals' fate.
Rheinheimer provided a glimmer of hope when she was fouled on a three pointer with 4.3 remaining, but she missed the third toss to leave it a two-possession game.
Eastern Mennonite had a 43% to 37% shooting advantage, leading to a 47-37 rebounding margin. But the women couldn't overcome their 22 turnovers. BC had just seven miscues.
Rheinheimer poured in 30 points with seven rebounds and three steals. The All-American averaged 32.5 points against Bridgewater this season. Walker had a solid offensive game with 15 points. Ygarza had seven rebounds and four assists. Jonae Guest (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) provided a team best eight rebounds in just 12 minutes off the bench.
Lam led a balanced BC effort with 16 points. Cassidy Burkholder had 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Strom scored 13. Oshene Kelly grabbed 11 boards, including a whopping eight off the offensive glass.