A twenty-four-point second quarter was a bright spot for the EMU basketball women in their loss to Emory & Henry on Saturday. The ODAC leading Wasps (19-4/13-3 ODAC) paced their way to a 76-61 victory.

The Royals celebrate Senior Recognition in their final home game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 19 when they host Bridgewater. Note the earlier mid-week start time of 6:00pm.

Emory & Henry started the game in full swing as they jumped out to a 16-4 advantage by the 3:54 mark in the first quarter. The Royals (4-18/3-13 ODAC) did not let the game get away as they scored eight points to finish the quarter trailing by ten.

EMU caught fire in the second quarter shooting 50% from the floor. Lexi Deffenbaugh (Fishersville, Va./Wilson Memorial) scored nine points in the frame as her last made layup narrowed the deficit to seven points with 49 seconds until halftime. Then a made three by Emory & Henry gave them a 46-36 lead at the break.

The Royals kept the game manageable through the first three minutes of the second half as the game stayed within a ten-point margin. Then the Wasps began to run away with the game as they outscored EMU 24-11 over the next ten minutes and built their lead.

Emory & Henry shot 44.1% (30-68) for the game and 34.6% (9-26) from three point range. The Royals shot 26.7% (20-75) while going 5-19 (26.3%) from behind the arc.

Chloe Roach (Leesburg, Va./Tuscarora) led EMU with 12 points while grabbing four rebounds. Tiffany Carey (Bedford, Va./Jefferson Forest) scored 11 with six rebounds and three steals. Jade Payton (Berryville, Va./Clarke County) scored seven points and had three assists off the bench.

Emory & Henry was led by Sydney McKinney with 16 points as three other starters scored in double figures.