On the strength of a 15-2 run, the Eastern Mennonite women blew open a tight contest in the first half and never looked back in an 81-61 win over Emory & Henry Friday night. The Royals shot 53% in extending their season-best four-game winning streak in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference road matchup.

EMU led 18-17 seven minutes into the contest before erupting for nine straight points and then the 15-2 streak. When Bianca Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) hit a jumper with 4:23 to go in the half, the Royals led 33-19.

Emory & Henry trimmed a 12-point halftime deficit down to nine early in the second, but Eastern Mennonite scored six unanswered to put the lead back in double figures for good.

The Royals led by as many as 23 points and cruised to the 81-61 win.

In a solid team effort, the women connected on 28 of 53 shots for a sizzling 53%. EMU was also 8-15 from three point range and 17-19 from the free throw line.

Danielle Rittenhouse (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) led five Royals in double figures as she knocked in 17. Stephanie Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) was right behind as she was 4-6 from long range and finished with a career best 16 points.

Sara Lamneck (Swoope, Va./Buffalo Gap) had 11 and a game high seven rebounds. Ygarza and Kala Yoders (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO) each scored 10.

Eastern Mennonite moves to 8-5 with the win and is tied for third in the ODAC with a 6-2 mark. The Royals continue their weekend road trip playing at Guilford Saturday afternoon at 4:00pm.