For the second night in a row, Eastern Mennonite used a huge second half to secure an ODAC win. Friday the Royals outscored Randolph 38-25 in the second to take a six-point win on the road. Saturday the women were hosting Lynchburg and again trailed at halftime. But a 49-32 score over the final 20 minutes earned EMU a 75-63 victory.

Both teams played at a steady tempo in a first half which saw eight ties. The Hornets scored the final five of the frame to lead 31-26 at the break.

The momentum carried into the second, as Lynchburg put in the first seven to take a 38-26 lead.

But that's when the Royals turned on their game. They answered the 12-0 run with a 16-0 run over the span of just 3:43.

Kala Yoders (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO) converted a three-point play at 12:56 to put EMU ahead 39-38, and Marla Young (Fishersville, Va./Wilson Memorial) stole the ensuing inbounds pass and converted her own three-point play three seconds later to make the lead 42-38.

Lynchburg regrouped and tied the score at 42-42, but the Royals kept on the heat. A quick 5-0 spurt kept the women in front and another 11-3 run gave them their first double digit lead at 61-51.

The Hornets got back within six before EMU closed the door on the 75-63 win. The Royals outscored LC by 17 points in the second, including 49-25 over the final 16:36.

"For about 16 minutes, we played about as well as we have all year," Coach Kevin Griffin said.

He said the defense, which forced 10 second-half turnovers, started the turnaround.

"It all started on the defensive end," he said. "We turned up the intensity several notches and got some transition baskets. And then, quite honestly, Kala just took over."

Yoders poured in 21 second-half points on 8-of-9 shooting and finished with a career high 23 points. The freshman added six rebounds and a pair of steals.

Danielle Rittenhouse (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) added 11 points, four assists and two steals. Shandell Taylor (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) hit a couple of triples as she and Stephanie Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) each finished with nine points.

EMU shot 52% from the floor in the second half and finished at 46%. The women were also 15-16 from the free throw line in the final 20 and finished at 18-23. Lynchburg shot 41% and was only 6-7 from the stripe.

The back-to-back ODAC wins pushes the women to 11-8 on the season and 9-5 in conference play. Currently in fifth place in the ODAC standings, the Royals have a tough week ahead of them as they play the league's top two teams.

EMU is at Randolph-Macon Tuesday night before hosting Roanoke Saturday afternoon. Both opponents have just one loss in the ODAC play.