HARRISONBURG, Va.- For the first time in over a month, the EMU Women's Basketball team got to play in front of their homes at Yoder Arena, entertaining Guilford College. Trailing by as many as 16 points, the Royals came all the way back to tie the game in the fourth quarter. However, they could not complete the comeback, falling 67-60 to the visiting Quakers.
Lauren Townsend led the Royals with a career-high 17 points, surpassing her previous high of 16 in the season opener against Notre Dame (Md.). Jayla Gray tallied her fourth double-double in the past five games, scoring 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Jeriyah Osborne also wound up in double figures with 14 points.
Guilford also had three players put up double-digit points, led by 14 points from Anna Giannopoulou.

Records: EMU 8-6, 0-5 ODAC | Guilford 10-4, 4-2 ODAC

Highlights
First Quarter
Following a Guilford basket to open the scoring, the Royals scored seven unanswered points with a Grace Burke three-pointer, a Laila Glymph driving layup, and two free throws from Townsend. With the score 14-11 in favor of EMU, the Quakers countered with a 7-0 run of their own to go up by four. Townsend then tallied the final five points of the period, putting the Royals up 19-18 on a three-pointer with 10 seconds left in the quarter.

Second Quarter
Guilford got off to a strong start in the second quarter, going on a 6-0 scoring run to take up a five-point lead. Jayda Jones drew EMU back within two with a shot from beyond the arc. After a Guilford layup, Townsend sank her second three-pointer of the afternoon. The Quakers then grew their lead to six at 31-25, but the Royals pounced with the five straight points in the final minute of the half. Gray put back a layup at the 0:55 mark, and then Burke sank a three-pointer to cap the opening 20 minutes of play.
 
Third Quarter
Guilford opened up a seven-point lead with six unanswered points in the first 1:05 of the second half. Osborne notched the Royals' first points of the second half with a driving layup at the 7:51. From there, the Quakers took control of the quarter. With the score 44-37, Guilford went on an 8-0 run to open up a 15-point lead. A Jael Hill layup plus the free throw put the Quakers out to their biggest lead of sixteen points at 55-39. The Royals did stage a small rally to end the period with two Townsend free throws and an Osborne floating jumpshot, making the score 55-43 after 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Royals got within single-digits with three Osborne free throws and a Gray layup. Following a Markayla Massenburg free throw at the 6:22 mark, Townsend completed a traditional three-point play and Gray hit free throws to cut the margin to five. The Quakers pulled back out to a 60-53 lead, but the Royals answered with a 7-0 run capped by a Glymph jump shot to tie the game at 60 apiece. Sadly, EMU could not complete the comeback as Guilford closed the game with a  6-0 run over the final 1:59 of the game.
 
Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Townsend (17)
Rebounds: Gray (10)
Assists: Burke, Osborne (4)
Steals: Glymph, Osborne (4)
Blocks: Gray (4)
 
What's Next
EMU Women's Basketball will make the trip south down I-81 for a midweek matchup at Hollins on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Tip-off from the W. Canning Howe Playing Courts at Hollins is slated for 7 p.m.

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