Eastern Mennonite's basketball women overcame an early deficit to push their home winning streak to 24 games Tuesday night, trumping Washington and Lee by a final of 70-58.  The Royals are now 11-2 on the season including an ODAC-leading 5-0.  W&L slips to 10-3 and 3-2 in the ODAC.

The Generals commanded the field over the opening minutes, charging to an 11-3 lead just 4:28 into play.  The lead built to 16-6, but EMU regrouped quickly.  Coming off the bench, Myneshia Walker (Freeman, Va./Brunswick) hit back-to-back threes to trigger a run.  After Jess Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) canned her own three to get the Royals within one, Walker picked a quick steal and laid it in to flip the women in front.  Shakeerah Sykes (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) added a bucket to cap a 17-4 run, pushing the score to 23-20.

Washington and Lee had the game tied at 28-28, but the Royals turned on the defense and only allowed two points over the final six minutes of the half to lead 37-30 at the break.

The visitors made a few jabs early in the second and got within three points at 45-42, but Rheinheimer and Walker combined on a 10-2  run, bumping the lead up to 57-45.

Sykes then took over the scoring to keep the edge around double figures, and the Royals made 5-of-6 free throws over the final 1:28 to lock up the 12-point win.

Statistically, the teams showed little difference.  EMU shot 42% while W&L was at 38%.  Both made seven treys.  Even rebounding was locked at 39-39.  The Royals got the biggest edge at the stripe, going 13-17.  Washington and Lee was 5-9 from the free throw line.

Rheinheimer hit her first 10 shots and charted a game high 26 points, including three triples.  Sykes finished with a double double, her fifth in the last six games, going for 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.  Walker was a great compliment off the bench, dumping in a career high 15 points.

Alisa Brown (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) handed out six assists and Alicia Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) added six rebounds.

Shelbi Hendricks hit a trio of threes and led W&L with 17 points and 10 boards.  Jackie Clifford scored 12 while Annie Gauf had a game high seven assists.

The Royals haven't lost in Yoder Arena since a Jan. 7, 2013, loss to Elizabethtown.

The women hit the road this weekend, taking on preseason favorite Lynchburg Saturday afternoon at 2:00pm.  The Hornets are 4-1 in the ODAC.

Coach Kevin Griffin talks about his women getting a solid win over an improved Washington and Lee team: