The Eastern Mennonite women's basketball team picked up a solid win at home Tuesday night, topping Hollins 72-56 in Yoder Arena. The starters powered the offense early while the bench carried the team late as the Royals moved to 7-3 and fourth place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Kori Penick (Lynchburg, Va./Virginia Episcopal) and Sara Lamneck (Swoope, Va./Buffalo Gap) scored EMU's first 13 points, as the women made an effort to get the ball inside.

The two teams traded leads until Eastern Mennonite closed the half on an 18-8 run, taking a 38-27 advantage into the break.

Hollins started the second half like a different team, as the visitors opened up on a 13-2 tear, tying the score at 40-40 just 4:01 in.

The Royals got buckets from Stephanie Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and Lamneck to stem the tide and rebuild the lead. Up 48-47 with 11:22 remaining, the game made a distinct turn.

After nearly two minutes without a score by either team, the EMU bench took over. Skylar Scott (Orange, Va./Orange County) frustrated Hollins' top scorer, Jasmine Greene, while Bianca Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) powered the Royals' offense.

Ygarza put in 14 points over the final 9:31 as the Royals closed the game on a 24-9 streak and ran away with the 16-point win.

Coach Kevin Griffin said his subs played a deciding role in the contest.

"I thought our bench offensively and defensively just carried us tonight," he said, "especially Skylar and Bianca in the second half. They brought energy, scoring and defense."

Ygarza powered EMU with 23 points and nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end. She also had a game high three steals. Scott helped hold Hollins' Greene to just four points over the final 11 minutes. Greene scored 18 in the first half and finished with a game high 30.

Lamneck nearly charted a double double, coming in with 12 points and nine rebounds. Penick finished with 12 points, all in the first half.

The Royals held Hollins to just 33% shooting, although the visitors did go 20-29 from the free throw line. EMU shot 43% from the floor and was 14-25 from the stripe. The women also had a commanding 48-32 edge in rebounding, including 16 offensive boards.

The win pushes Eastern Mennonite to 9-6 overall and 7-3 in the ODAC. The Royals have now won seven of their last nine games. Next up is a rematch at defending ODAC champion Washington & Lee on Saturday afternoon. EMU topped the Generals last Tuesday in Harrisonburg 70-69 in overtime.