The Eastern Mennonite University women's basketball team scored 45 points in the first half in route to a 79-74 Old Dominion Athletic Conference win over Randolph-Macon College Tuesday night in Yoder Arena.

The win marks the first time since the 2003-04 season that the Lady Royals were able to beat the Yellow Jackets in the regular season. EMU also defeated Randolph-Macon in the conference tournament that year on their way to a ODAC championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament.

EMU now stands at 18-5 overall and 14-4 in the ODAC while Randolph-Macon falls to 19-4 overall and 14-4 in the conference.

Junior forward Carolyn Riley (Warrenton, Va./Liberty-Bealeton) tied a career high with 25 points while adding 10 rebounds for her third double double of the season. Senior center Jolene Kratz (Telford, Pa./Christopher Dock) had 16 points and eight rebounds with sophomore guard Ebony Dennis (Baltimore, Md./Western) adding 15 points and nine boards.

Molly Ariail had a team leading 16 points off the bench for Randolph-Macon with Jess Shifflett (15 points) and Nicole Childress (14 points) adding to the Yellow Jacket attack.

"That is a well coached basketball team we played tonight," said EMU head coach Kevin Griffin following the win. "They have a bunch of really smart kids who play very well and it shows in the fact that we have not been able to beat them in four years. I thought our rebounding and the pace of the game itself really helped to contribute to the win tonight."

EMU jumped out to a double digit lead (16-6) with only five minutes off the clock in the first half and quickly built up a 12 point advantage on the defending ODAC champions. Randolph-Macon responded in kind with a 9-0 run to cut the deficit down to only three points only a minute and a half later. Baskets from senior guard Tara Jones (Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook) and Kratz held the Yellow Jackets at bay while the Lady Royals were able to head into the locker room with a 45-38 lead.

Overall, EMU shot 45 percent in the first half (16-35) with Riley scoring 17 points to go along with another 12 points from Kratz.

In the second half, the home team again built up a double digit lead with the Lady Royals going ahead by 14 with 11:47 on the clock. In a repeat of the first half, the Yellow Jackets again fought back and went on an 8-0 run this time to close the gap to six with 8:19 left in the game thanks to buckets from Shifflett and Childress. Randolph-Macon pulled to only three points of tying the game with EMU holding off the surging Yellow Jackets with a big trey dropped in by freshman guard Brittany Snyder (Raphine, Va./Riverheads). Following a Yellow Jacket layup, it was Dennis' turn to add a three pointer of her own as the EMU guard put the home team up by seven with 3:58 to go. EMU sustained one last late charge by Randolph-Macon in the games final minute to capture their 14th conference victory.

Snyder had nine points and two assists for EMU with sophomore guard Melissa Lewis (Stuarts Draft, Va./Stuarts Draft) adding five rebounds and four steals.

EMU is now tied in second place in the ODAC with Randolph-Macon while Virginia Wesleyan, who was off tonight, holds onto the top spot.

"We had some good looks in the first half and were able to capitalize," added Griffin. "Randolph-Macon adjusted to our defense, but I thought our girls did a good job of just continuing to battle for rebounds and make key free throws when we needed them."

The Lady Royals will now close out the regular season on the road as EMU travels to Roanoke College on Friday, February 22, for a 7 p.m. game with the Maroons.