Box Score Freshman Brittany Snyder (Raphine, Va./Riverheads) hit the go ahead three-pointer and the Eastern Mennonite University women's basketball team never looked back as the Lady Royals defeated Bridgewater College 71-62 Saturday afternoon.

EMU improves to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Old Dominion Atheltic Conference while Bridgewater falls to 2-2 overall and suffers their first conference loss (0-1).

"We played really tough today, our defense was outstanding, especially Ebony Dennis (Baltimore, Md./Western) who had to guard one of their best players and did a good job against her," commented EMU head coach Kevin Griffin following the win. "They are one of the best coached teams in our league and I think our rebounding, which was a point of emphasis for us going into the game, made a big difference towards the end."

Neither team was able to gain more than a five-point advantage through the first half the lead changed hands seven times with the game tied at 27 heading into halftime. The Lady Royals appeared to have a small cushion before the break as senior Tara Jones (Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook) hit a trey to put EMU by five. BC's Jessica Timberlake responded in the Eagles next possession with a three of her own with Bridgewater draining anther bucket to tie the game.

The Eagles opened up a five-point lead with 14:11 on the clock in the second half on a basket by Timberlake before the Lady Royals started to take control of the contest. A three-pointer by Dennis and a jumper by junior forward Carolyn Riley (Warrenton, Va./Liberty-Bealeton) tied the game at 38 all with Snyder giving the Lady Royals the lead for good.

BC got within a point of the EMU lead but was unable to gain control of the contest as the EMU defense swarmed around the Eagles and held Bridgewater to only 1-of-10 from behind the arch.

Riley led the Lady Royals with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six steals while Dennis had 16 points, 11 boards, four steals, and three assists. Senior center Jolene Kratz (Telford, Pa./Christopher Dock) had another double-double for EMU with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Local product Jordan Burkholder from Turner Ashby High School had a team high 17 points to lead the Eagles with Timberlake and Nikki Snydor chipping in another 12 points for BC.

"Brittany and Lele Shumate (McDowell, Va./Highland Co.) gave us great minutes off the bench," added Griffin, "but we need to do a better job on our free throws. We got to the line, which is what we wanted to do, but couldn't make some of our attempts fall. Bridgewater is a great team and our defense played a huge part in this win."

The Lady Royals stay on the road as EMU travels down to Averett to do battle with the Cougars on Monday, December 3, at 5:30 p.m.