Ashland, Va. – The Royals (15-5, 10-5 ODAC) were looking for their sixth straight win as they took on the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College (11-9, 8-7 ODAC) for the second time this season. EMU fell to the Yellow Jackets 79-82 at home earlier in the year after missing 25 free-throws in what was a very physical game while shooting 33.8% from the floor.

In their second meeting this season the Yellow Jackets took a seven point lead early with physical play in the paint. RMC pulled down six offensive rebounds in the first four minutes of the game as the Yellow Jackets took a 16-9 lead with 14:22 left to play in the first half. But the Royals went on a 10-2 run to take a 19-18 lead with 11:33 left in the first half. Freshman Stephanie Mathews (Woodstock, Va./Central) came up with a steal and scored on a breakaway lay-up to start the 10-2 run. Senior Carissa Kennel (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) followed that up with two free-throws after being fouled on a drive to the basket to cut into the RMC lead. Senior forward Kristen Hoekstra (Chesterfield, Va./Richmond Christian) pulled down a defensive rebound and found Senior Emily Mullet (Harrisonburg, Va./EMHS) open down court for a three-point basket. On the next play Hoekstra came up with a steal and found Emily Mullet open for her second straight three-point basket as the Royals took the lead.

EMU led by as many as eight points in the first half but with 16 seconds remaining until half time Freshman guard Megan Silva connected on a three-point basket to give RMC a 39-36 lead. EMU cleared half court with six seconds left in the first period but turned the ball over. Silva started to break away for a lay-up but Freshman Carrie Grandstaff (Luray, Va./Mt. Carmel Christian) picked Silva's pocket. Grandstaff took two dribbles and threw up a desperation shot from just inside half court and was fouled by Silva at the buzzer. Grandstaff connected on three free-throws with no time left on the clock to tie the game for the seventh time in the first half, EMU 39, RMC 39.

The Royals took the lead again with 16:47 left in the game on a made jumper by Freshman Laura Ludholtz (Mt. Crawford, Va./Fort Defiance) and lead by as many as nine points in the second half. The Royals built their lead on superb free-throw shooting connecting on 21 of 25 attempts in the second half. Grandstaff scored 17 of her game high 30 points in the second half while Emily Mullet scored 13 of her season high 21 points in the half as the Royals worked hard to hold off the Yellow Jackets in the second half. RMC used strong play in the post to get within two points of the Royals with 5:10 left in the game. The Yellow Jackets took a 71-70 lead with 4:50 left in the contest on a made three-point basket at the top of the key by guard Lindsay Carroll. RMC built a six point lead as the Royals could not find the bottom of the net, but with 43 seconds left in the game Emily Mullet was fouled on a drive to the basket and went to the free-throw line for two shots. Mullet connected on both attempts to make it 84-80 in favor of RMC. Grandstaff came up with a steal out of the Royals full court press and scored on a short jumper with 31 seconds left to play and the Royals trailed 84-82. EMU was forced to foul on the next possession and Carroll stepped to the line for two free-throws with 17 seconds left in the game. Carroll missed both attempts and the Royals controlled the rebound and called a timeout at half court with 13 seconds remaining in the contest. Coming out of the timeout the Royals missed on a great scoring opportunity and were forced to foul with nine seconds left on the clock. RMC hit the first free-throw but missed on the second and the Royals again collected the rebound and called their final timeout at half court with five seconds left to play. EMU ran an inbounds play and got off a three-point shot at the buzzer but the shot was wide to the left as the Royals fell to RMC by a final score of 85-82.

Grandstaff scored a career high 30 points in the game while recording three assists and three steals in the contest. Emily Mullet finished with a season high 21 points and recorded four assists while Ludholtz added 12 points and two steals.