HARRISONBURG, VA --- EMU's basketball women finished off the regular season in style Saturday night, shooting past Hollins by a final of 71-37. The win snaps a three-game skid and gives Eastern Mennonite a home game in the first round of next week's ODAC Tournament.
The Royals, seeded eighth after being edged by Bridgewater in a tiebreaker, host ninth seeded Shenandoah on Monday night with a 7:00pm start in Yoder Arena. The teams split their season series, with each picking up a double digit win on the road.
Since the game is an ODAC Tournament contest, all adults must pay the $5 admission charge and there will be no passes. Only students get in free with ID.
Click here to see the interactive ODAC Tournament bracket.
Eastern Mennonite (13-11/8-8 ODAC) started out in a funk against Hollins, missing seven of their first eight shots. Hollins was quite the opposite and built a 12-5 lead 5:24 into play.
That all changed when Chrissy Delawder (Broadway, Va./Broadway) took it to the hole and got a layup at the 4:14 mark. Senior Myneshia Walker (Freeman, Va./Brunswick) banged in a pair of three pointers and Delawder found Lexi Deffenbaugh (Fishersville, Va./Wilson Memorial) for another triple to cap a 15-0 streak, putting the Royals ahead 20-12.
Hollins ended the first with a long three, but that did not stem the tide.
The women got their first 12 points of the second from outside, getting two more triples from Delawder and one each from Deffenbaugh and Lindsey Krisak (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison). Brianna Zook (Harrisonburg, Va./Broadway) added a pair of inside buckets as the run continued to 21-3 to open the second, blowing the lead to 41-18.
EMU led 45-23 at halftime, bolstered by 9-for-16 shooting before the break.
As if the outcome was in doubt, the Royals' clamped on the defense in the third, holding Hollins to a single field goal to win the quarter score, 22-3. They led 67-26 heading into the fourth and coasted to the finish.
Eastern Mennonite shot a season-best 50% from long range, hitting 13-of-26 three pointers. They finished at 46% overall, and held Hollins to just 20% shooting. The women forced 19 turnovers compared to 10 of their own, but were out-rebounded 41-38.
Walker hit four treys and led all scorers with 14 points. Delawder keyed the first half explosion and finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Deffenbaugh scored 11 off the bench.
Krisak had nine points and four assists, while Zook chimed in with eight points and six rebounds. Precious Waddy (Richmond, Va./Henrico) was a catalyst on offense, dishing out seven assists for the highest single game total for any EMU player this season.
Deana Campbell led Hollins with 10 points while Tayler Broyles had nine points, six rebounds and four assists.
Senior Recognition
The Royals also celebrated Myneshia Walker and Brianna Zook in pre-game Senior Recognition ceremonies.
Walker has been a regular on the court over her four years, playing in 92 games with 65 starts. An All-ODAC performer, Walker has scored 943 points in her career.
Zook has patiently been a great role player for EMU and is having her best season as a senior. She earned her first career double double Wednesday night against Bridgewater with 20 points and 10 rebounds.