Harrisonburg, VA – The Lady Royals (3-1, 1-0 ODAC) were riding high coming into their ODAC Conference opener in tonight's game against the Maroons of Roanoke College (3-1, 1-0 ODAC) having won their first three games of the season. The Maroons however were looking to get back on track after having lost their last game against Johns Hopkins last Sunday. In the ODAC opener for both teams the Maroons came out on fire quickly building a twelve point lead just four minutes into the game. The Lady Royals only lead of the game came on the opening tip when Emily "Jo" Misak (Hutchinson, KS/Chaparral) made a short jumper to give EMU a 2-0 lead. Then the Maroons went on a 14-0 run with four different Roanoke players making a three point shot.The Maroons were six for eight from behind the three point line halfway through the first period. Senior Liz Sloop (Raleigh, NC/W.G. Enloe) hit the first three of the night while Freshman teammate Lindsay Reynolds (Salem, VA/Glenvar) followed it up with a three of her own on the next trip down the floor. Renalds finished the game with a career high 17 points. Things didn't get better quickly for the Lady Royals with Sophomore Roanoke forward Kayce Smith (Chattanooga, TN/Baylor School) scoring seven points in a run that saw the Lady Royals fall behind by 15 points with 8:03 to go in the first half.

Despite the sizable first half deficit the Lady Royals proved they were down but not out cutting the Roanoke lead to six points with 3:49 to go in the first half. Freshman Stephanie Mathews (Woodstock, VA/Central) crashed the offensive boards and put in a missed shot by Misak, then came up with a great steal on the defensive end of the floor and exploded to the basket for another lay-up that cut the Roanoke lead to 11. On the Lady Royals' next possession Freshman Amanda Renalds (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) collected her own rebound and hit Senior Emily Mullet (Harrisonburg, VA/EMHS) on the perimeter for an open three-point shot cutting the Maroon lead to eight. The Lady Royals kept the defensive pressure up and Freshman Laura Ludholtz (Mt. Crawford, VA/Fort Defiance) made a spectacular steal on the wing after reading the passing lane. Ludholtz coasted to the rim to keep the Roanoke lead at eight points. Freshman Carrie Grandstaff (Luray, VA/Mt. Carmel Christian) found Mullet open again for a three-point basket at the 3:49 mark to finally cut the Maroon lead to six points. The Roanoke lead was still six points at the end of the first half with a half time score of 33-39.

On their first possession of the second half the Lady Royals cut the Roanoke lead to four points on a made jumper by Renalds off of a great look by Grandstaff. At the 18:27 mark Ludholtz hit Grandstaff with a pass for a three-point shot that cut the Maroons lead to three points the smallest margin since three minutes into the contest. Roanoke responded to the EMU charge slowly increasing their lead to 13 points at the 12:48 mark after Junior Amber Kern (Roanoke, VA/Northside) scored six points and picked up an assist in a span of two minutes. The Roanoke lead would eventually grow to 18 points at the 11:16 mark as the Lady Royals could not find the bottom of the net with several great shots just rimming out.

Finding themselves in another hole the Lady Royals switched defenses forcing three straight Roanoke turnovers causing the Maroons to use two time outs in a span of two minutes. The Lady Royals also hit the offensive glass hard with Mathews and Grandstaff both scoring off of offensive rebounds. The Lady Royals again fought back into the game with defense and determination cutting the Roanoke lead to six points with 1:31 to go in the game with Mullet scoring six points and Mathews four points in the run. But Roanoke remained calm and closed out the game making two foul shots and beating the EMU press to close out the game with a ten point lead 82-72.

Mullet and Mathews led the Lady Royals with 15 points apiece with Mathews also pulling down 13 rebounds. Grandstaff added 12 points and Renalds recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Ludholtz ended the night with nine points and 11 rebounds.

The Lady Royals will look to get back on track Thursday when they face Hollins University at 7:00pm in the University Commons in an ODAC contest.