The Eastern Mennonite University women's basketball team rang in 2007 with a bang as the Lady Royals improved to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference with a 70-55 win over Lynchburg College Friday night.

Sophomore Carolyn Riley (Warrenton, Va.) led the Lady Royals with 16 points and eight boards. Riley led all scorers at the half with 11 points.

EMU went into the half holding a 40-24 edge with senior guard Tara Jones (Richmond, Va.) going 4-for-6 from the field with nine points. Jones finished with 13 points and five boards while freshman Ebony Dennis (Baltimore, Md.) contributed another solid game for the Lady Royals with 14 points, five steals, and four assists.

Caroline Wesley led all scorers with 19 points for Lynchburg which fell to 2-6 overall on the season and 2-2 in the conference. Kristina Darby chipped in another 10 points for the Hornets.

Sophomore forward Kathleen Steele (Gainesville, Va.) added eight points and four rebounds in the win.

Each team tallied 42 rebounds on the game while the Lady Royals held a 14-to-8 advantage in steals.

The women's basketball team remains on the road tomorrow as they take on Hollins University at 3 p.m.