HARRISONBURG, Va.- The EMU Women's Basketball team concluded a three-game homestead on Saturday, entertaining their guests from Averett. The Royals started out fast and then kept the Cougars at bay on the way to an 80-61 victory. With the win, the Royals locked up their first season with double-digit wins since the 2018-19 campaign. Furthermore, the 80 points scored is the team's largest total of the season, surpassing the 78 points accrued in their road win at Guilford back on Dec. 2.

Kayla Surles kept up her late season hot streak, tallying 24 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field as well as 11-of-12 from the free throw line. It was Surles' third consecutive game scoring 20 or more points. Trinity Washington joined Surles in double figures, scoring 12 points and adding three assists. Mya Hamlet narrowly missed out on a double-double, contributing eight points and leading all players with nine rebounds.

Brianna Sams and Talia Prosper carried the Cougars with 15 and 14 points scored, respectively.

Records: EMU 10-13, 5-11 ODAC | Averett 4-20, 2-14 ODAC

Highlights

First Quarter

The Royals came out firing on all cylinders, opening up with a 20-2 scoring run spanning the first 8:01 of the game. Washington got EMU started with a floating jump shot 25 seconds in, and Surles accounted for 13 of the 20 points in the rally, including three shots from beyond the arc. A layup by Jayla Gray with seven seconds left in the period gave the Royals a decisive 22-6 lead after 10 minutes.

Second Quarter

The Royals widened the lead further in the second quarter. Jeriyah Osborne started the period with a driving layup at the 9:46 mark. EMU took firm control with an 11-0 run over a 2:20 span, which was bookended by a Hamlet layup and a Surles two-point jumper. Laila Glymph also chipped in with four points of her over 31 seconds. EMU went to the locker room with a sizable 50-20 halftime lead.

Third Quarter

Averett showed some fight to start the second half, scoring the first seven points of the third quarter. However, the Royals settled back into the game after that, outscoring the Cougars 14-11 over the final eight minutes of the period to go to the fourth up 64-38.

Fourth Quarter

The Royals and Cougars traded baskets back-and-forth for much of the fourth quarter, with EMU emptying the bench in the waning minutes. Averett scored 10 unanswered points on EMU's backups, but the Royals got the final say with a Kaliyah Braxton driving layup to get to their highest point total of the season.

Statistical Leaders

Scoring: Surles (24)

Rebounds: Hamlet (9)

Assists: Surles, Washington (3)

Steals: Four players tied with 2

Blocks: Hamlet (1)

What's Next

The EMU Women's Basketball team will load up the bus for a road matchup at Ferrum on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. It will be the final regular season road game for the Royals.

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