HARRISONBURG, Va.- The EMU Women's Basketball team hoped to climb up the ODAC standings with a Saturday conference match-up against Roanoke College. However, the Maroons made just a few more plays in the final minutes pull out a 63-57 victory over the Royals.

Kayla Surles showed the way for the Royals, scoring 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field.  Madison Nereu had a monster game for the Maroons, putting up a double-double of 23 points and 17 rebounds.

Records: EMU 4-7, 1-5 ODAC | Roanoke 5-3, 3-2 ODAC

Highlights
First Quarter
EMU stumbled out of the gate as Roanoke went on a 14-4 scoring run over the first 6:10 of the game. The Royals halted the run with back-to-back layups by Jayla Gray and Jayda Jones. EMU then outscored Roanoke over the final minute-and-a-half of the quarter to close the gap to 21-13 after one.  

Second Quarter
Jeriyah Osborne gave the Royals a boost early in the second, scoring five of the team's first seven points in the period. A Caris Lucas layup and a Brii Redfearn jumper got EMU within one possession at 27-24. Roanoke widened the lead back to seven with two minutes left, but then Surles responded with a three-pointer to make the score 33-29 at the break.

Third Quarter
Points were hard to come by in the third, as the teams tied 10-10 for the quarter. Roanoke took a 43-39 lead into the final 10 minutes of action.

Fourth Quarter
Surles went to work to start the fourth, scoring four points on a layup and a floater to tie the game at 43. Following a pair of Roanoke free throws by Rose Sande, Surles tied the game again at 45 apiece. While the Royals tied the game twice in the fourth, they were unable to take the lead for themselves as Roanoke made the plays down the stretch to secure the victory. EMU got within three on a Mya Hamlet three-pointer with 45 seconds left, but a Nereu layup and a Elle Gunter free throw put the game out of reach.

Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Surles (18)
Rebounds: Trinity Washington (7)
Assists: Washington (3)
Steals: Four players tied with 2

What's Next
EMU Women's Basketball will be back on the court next Saturday, Dec. 16 for the first of two weekend games in Raleigh, N.C. against William Peace. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

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