Harrisonburg, VA – The Lady Royals (4-2, 1-2 ODAC) were looking for their second straight conference win as they entertained ODAC rival Randolph-Macon College (1-5, 1-3 ODAC). Earlier in the week the Royals defeated Hollins University 90-50, while Macon suffered a heartbreaking loss to Roanoke College in the final seconds of their game on Friday night.

The Royals jumped out to their best start of the season building a nine point lead with 11:42 to go in the first half against a pesky and very physical Macon team. Freshman Stephanie Mathews (Woodstock, VA/Central) got the Royals rolling early with her active play. Just two minutes into the game Mathews was fouled on a great drive to the basket and managed to finish the shot for two points. Mathews hit the ensuing free-throw to give the Royals a 5-2 lead. Mathews scored the Royals next two points and had an opportunity for a second three point play after scoring on a put-back and being fouled on the play. Freshman Amanda Renalds (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) got into the action crashing the offensive boards and getting fouled on a put-back attempt. Renalds made one of two free throws giving EMU a 9-8 advantage at the 16:01 mark. Renalds increased the EMU lead a little later after pulling down another offensive rebound and scoring on a put-back. On the defensive end of the floor Renalds came up with a big block in the paint which was collected by Mathews who hit Senior Emily Mullet (Harrisonburg, VA/EMHS) with a great pass ahead of the defense for Mullet's first points of the ballgame. In the first six minutes of the game Mathews and Renalds combined for nine of EMU's first thirteen points, eight offensive rebounds, and a blocked shot.

Randolph-Macon kept the game close behind the hot shooting of Senior Allison King (Cary, N.C./Cary) who scored seven first half points off the bench. Macon went on a 7-1 run to cut EMU's lead to one point 23-22 with 8:43 to go in the first half. Macon Sophomore Emily Crider (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) knocked down two free-throws and pulled down three rebounds in a span of less than a minute to help the Yellow Jackets climb back into the game. The Royals pushed the lead to six points 37-31at the end of the first half with Mathews and Mullet leading the way with eleven and eight points respectively. The EMU half time lead could have been greater had the Royals connected on their free-throws. The Royals shot a dismal 14-28 from the free-throw line in the first half and were 28-53 for the game.

Mathews got off to another great start in the second half getting to the foul line for two points and connecting on another short jumper in the lane early in the second half. Freshman Carrie Grandstaff (Luray, VA/Mt. Carmel Christian) scored a short jumper, and a three-point basket, and recorded a steal, an assist, and a rebound in a span of three minutes to help EMU push their lead 15 points with just over 10:00 to play. But Macon slowly crawled back into the game holding the Royals to one point in four minutes. Macon went on a 17-1 run and took a 68-66 lead for the first time in the game with 5:20 left to go in the contest. Grandstaff tied the game at 68 with a running one-hand floater in the lane and was fouled on the play but missed the ensuing free-throw. Mathews gave EMU a two point lead after poking the ball away from Macon's point guard and laying the ball up for two points. The Royals forced a Macon turnover on the next possession and Mullet was sent to the foul line to shoot two after being fouled on her drive to the basket. Mullet made both free-throws giving EMU a 72-68 lead with four minuets to go.

Macon came back again after another three-point basket by King and a made foul-shot by Freshman Megan Silva (Glen Allen, VA/Hermitage) and with 1:33 to go in the game the score was tied 76-76. Macon took the lead for good on two made free-throws by Crider, who scored seven of her 15 points in the final two minutes of the game. Macon picked up their first win of the season defeating EMU 82-79.

Grandstaff led the Royals with a game high 21 points while Mathews added 20 points and 15 rebounds for her second straight double-double. Mulled finished the night with 15 points while Senior Emily "Jo" Misak (Hutchinson, KS/Chaparral) added nine points and Renalds added eight points and 11 rebounds.