Randolph-Macon led much of the game, but the Royals had the lead when it counted, closing on a 13-2 run to grab an 81-76 win in an early battle of ODAC heavyweights.  Marla zumFelde (Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian) converted a clutch three-point play with 18 seconds left to give EMU's basketball women the lead as they knocked off the ODAC's final undefeated team in the nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets.

The game lived up to its billing as the league's top two scoring teams slugged it out in Ashland.  Randolph-Macon led by as many as 10 points early in the second before the Royals got back into the game with a quick 11-0 run.  The women scored on four straight possessions, capped by another three-point play from zumFelde to jump ahead 56-55 with 11:17 to go.

The Yellow Jackets answered just as quickly, scoring nine unanswered in less than two minutes to rebuild a 64-56 edge.  The home team kept their small lead until a Katie Anderson putback had it at 74-68 with 3:45 remaining.

That's when Eastern Mennonite took over.  A pair of free throws from Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) got the ball rolling and zumFelde drilled a triple to slice the lead to one.  The score remained 74-73 for nearly two minutes as neither team could score, but then zumFelde sunk another long ball after a nice drive-and-dish from Sykes to put EMU back in front, 76-74.

The Royals locked down their defense on R-MC, but Khajae Hester rescued her team with a long jumper as the shot clock expired to tie things back up at 76-76 with 45 ticks left.

Jess Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) then pulled the defense and found a cutting zumFelde for the hoop and the harm with 18 seconds left.  Hester heaved up an airballed three point attempt in the closing seconds, and Rheinheimer sealed the win with two free throws.

The Yellow Jackets had entered the game No. 21 and 23 in the two national polls, while Eastern Mennonite had been receiving votes.  The Royals' win also marked the first home loss for R-MC since the end of the 2012-13 season.

Randolph-Macon had led 43-35 at halftime fueled by Hannah Livermon going 6-8 from long range.  But EMU out-shot their hosts 56% to 34% in the second and didn't allow another three pointer.

The women ended up with a shooting edge of 47% to 39%, including 41% to 27% from outside.  Eastern Mennonite also had a 45-38 rebounding advantage and a huge edge at the free throw line, going 20-25 compared to just 5-5 for R-MC.  The Yellow Jackets stayed in the game with 19 offensive rebounds.  The Royals also committed 21 turnovers compared to just 10 for their hosts.

Rheinheimer led all scorers with a career high 27 points and tied for the team high with six rebounds.  Sykes came in with 20 points and five rebounds.  The clutch points came from zumFelde, who finished with 20 counters and two blocks, all in her 11 minutes of action in the second half.

Alisa Brown (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) added seven assists and six rebounds.  Sa'Mone Moore (Covington, Va./Covington) had five rebounds and four assists.

Livermon led Randolph-Macon with 24 points but scored just four in the second.  Anderson came in with 14 points and 12 rebounds.  Sarah Parsons had 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting with six assists and six boards.

Now 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the ODAC, the Royals step out of league play until January.  They get a tough non-conference game at home against Ferrum on Saturday, with a 2:00pm tip-off.