LYNCHBURG, Va.- The EMU Women's Basketball team entered the postseason on Tuesday with a first-round matchup in the ODAC Women's Basketball Tournament at Lynchburg. The Royals kept the game close through three quarters before the homestanding Hornets pulled away in the fourth by a final of 67-52..

Mya Hamlet and Kayla Surles co-led the Royals in scoring with 14 points apiece. Hamlet filled up the box score with nine rebounds, three steals and a block. Jeriyah Osborne and Trinity Washington also wound up with double figures, contributing 10 points each.

Sayre Bradstatter paced Lynchburg with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, followed by Bree Spainhour pitching in with 12 points.

Records: EMU 11-15, 6-12 ODAC | Lynchburg 15-11, 9-9 ODAC

Highlights
First Quarter
The Royals roared at the opening whistle, beginning the game on a 7-2 scoring run over the first 2:23. Hamlet got things started with a driving layup, followed by a pull-up jumper from Washington and a three-pointer from Osborne. Surles scored six points in the opening frame, and Jayda Jones chipped in with a trey. A Brandstatter three-pointer with 33 seconds left in the first gave Lynchburg a slim 21-18 edge going to the second quarter.

Second Quarter
There was little separation between the Royals and the Hornets in the second quarter, with Lynchburg outscoring EMU just 15-13 over those 10 minutes.       The Hornets extended their lead to seven at the 7:35 mark, but the Royals countered with a Washington layup and a Surles three-pointer to draw back within two with 4:45 to the half. Hamlet rattled off four straight free throws, but Lynchburg got the final basket of the half to make the score 36-31 in favor of the Hornets at the break.

Third Quarter
The two teams continued to be neck-and-neck out of the locker rooms. EMU reeled to within three on numerous occasions, but Lynchburg was able to find an answer each time. In particular, Hamlet had four points in the period, and Washington drained a three-pointer. A pair of Lynchburg free throws late made the score 48-42 for the Hornets going to the fourth.

Fourth Quarter
Lynchburg put the game out of reach with a 7-2 scoring run over the first 3:14 of the fourth. Surles stopped the run with a driving layup at the 6:23 mark. Osborne scored the final points of the season for EMU, nailing a layup and a free throw for the traditional three-point play with 1:33 left.  
 
Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Hamlet, Surles (14)
Rebounds: Hamlet (9)
Assists: Surles (2)
Steals: Hamlet (3)
Blocks: Hamlet (1)

What's Next
That concludes the 2023-24 season for the EMU Women's Basketball team. The Royals are projected to return all but one of their starters and contributors for the 2024-25 campaign.  

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