A quick start wasn't enough for Eastern Mennonite Saturday afternoon at Shenandoah. The Royals scored the first five points of the game and led by as many as seven in the first half, before the host Hornets scored 14 straight to seize momentum and the win, 76-68.

EMU's women zipped to a quick lead, taking a 5-0 lead in the opening 26 seconds. Shenandoah answered with the next seven to take its own lead, and the two teams went back and forth.

The Royals finally rebuilt a seven-point edge, going up 27-20 on a Brittany Snyder (Raphine, Va./Riverheads) three-pointer with 8:21 to go in the half. Shandell Taylor (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) had one of her team-high four assists on the play.

But that would end the women's scoring for nearly six minutes, as the Hornets put in 14 straight to take their own seven-point lead at 34-27. 

The teams traded buckets to finish out the half as Shenandoah led 38-31 at the break.

By the second half, the momentum had fully changed hands. The Hornets scored the first four points and EMU never got closer than seven. The deficit grew to as many as 16 points, before the Royals scored the final five to produce the 76-68 margin.

Eastern Mennonite came out on the short end of the stick despite shooting 45% from the floor in the game. The women were only 2-for-15 from three-point range and 10-for-22 from the free throw line, effectively spelling their doom. Shenandoah also shot 53% from the floor.

Danielle Rittenhouse (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) highlighted the offensive effort by shooting 7-10 and tallying a team high 17 points. She added four rebounds and two steals.

Freshman Kala Yoders (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO) had 11 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench. Stephanie Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) had eight points and four rebounds.

Sierra Edwards led the Hornets with 25 points and seven rebounds. Haley Smith added 18.

The loss drops EMU to 4-5 on the season as the women enter a two-and-a-half week break for Christmas. The Royals are also 3-2 in ODAC play. Their next game will be Tuesday, Jan. 4, at Lynchburg.