Harrisonburg, Va. – The Lady Royals were looking to get back on track after a 81-72 loss to Guilford College on Friday night. Five Royals finished in double figures against the Quakers and the Royals scored just two points below their season average but gave up 80 plus points in the loss.

In today's game the Royals (17-6, 12-6 ODAC) hosted another top team in the ODAC as Emory & Henry (16-7, 14-4 ODAC) is currently tied with Guilford College for first place in the conference. In their previous meeting this season the Royals controlled most of the game but experienced a 5:00 scoring drought in the second half as the Wasps heated up from the thee-point line to take the lead for good with 3:00 left in the game. Entering into today's game the Royals were determined to do two things... play pressure defense from the opening tip to the final buzzer and finish the game strong. At the end of the game it was obvious the Royals succeeded.

On the Wasp's first three possessions of the ball game, they were forced to take tough jump shots from the perimeter to beat the shot clock. Meanwhile the Royals pounded the ball inside to Freshman Amanda Renalds (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) who was fouled on two consecutive possessions and scored four points in the first four minutes of the game to give the Royals a three point lead with 16:37 left in the first half. EMU forced 16 first half turnovers and shot 47.8% from the floor in the first half but didn't pull away until senior Emily Mullet (Harrisonburg, Va./EMHS) connected on consecutive three-point baskets to give the Royals a 20-12 lead with 6:57 left in the first half. Freshman Stephanie Mathews (Woodstock, Va./Central) was fouled in the post while making a move to the basket and connected on two free-throws. Freshman Carrie Grandstaff (Luray, Va./Mt. Carmel Christian) was fouled on a drive to the basked on the Royals next possession and made two free-throws to give the Royals a 12 point lead with 5:40 left in the first half. EMU exploited the Wasps early foul trouble by pounding the ball inside during the final minutes of the first half to take a 34-19 lead at half time. The Royals held Emory & Henry to just 25.8% shooting from the floor in the first half but were out rebounded 24-14 in the half.

EMU started the second half with a 10-5 run to take a 20 point lead with 14:02 left in the game. Freshman Laura Ludholtz (Mt. Crawford, Va./Fort Defiance) collected two defensive rebounds and started the Royals fast break, hitting Mathews and Grandstaff for open lay-ups on consecutive possessions to start the run. The Royals continued to frustrate the Wasps perimeter oriented offense with their smothering defense and the Royals controlled the defensive boards to help spark the Royals fast-break offense. EMU pushed their lead to 29 points with 7:24 left in the game on two made free-throws by senior Lisa Bergey (Goshen, In./Bethany Christian) and the Royals coasted to the finish line for their 17th win of the season.

The Royals travel to Hollins University this Wednesday for an important ODAC game and host Randolph-Macon Women's College on Saturday at 2:00pm in the Royals final home game of the season.

Five Royals finished in double figures with Renalds leading the way with 15 points while Emily Mullet adding 13 points in the win. Ludholtz finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and a game high six assists while both Bergey and Mathews finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.