CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.- EMU Women's Basketball headed to the Keystone State on Saturday, looking to get back to their winning ways against Wilson College. Instead, the Phoenix handed the Royals their third straight loss by a score of 87-78.

The play of Grace Burke was a bright spot in defeat for the Royals. Burke, a sophomore from Stephens City, Va., scored a career-high 26 points, topping her pervious best of 22 in last year's victory over Bryn Mawr on Nov. 15, 2024. This is the highest single-game point total for an EMU player in almost two years, going back to Kayla Surles' 32-point performance in a road win at Guilford on Dec. 2, 2023.

Lauren Townsend and Lexie Dingus also wound up in double figures for the Royals, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Wilson College had four players in double figures, led by Leah Laubach with 21 points.

Records: EMU 3-4, 0-0 ODAC | Wilson 4-2, 0-0 United East

Highlights
First Quarter
The Phoenix pulled out to an early lead, going on a 13-3 run over the first 4:13 of the contest. Townsend drained a three-point to squelch the Phoenix rally. Townsend scored seven of EMU's 13 points in the first period to help keep the game close. Wilson led 17-13 going to the second quarter.

Second Quarter
Burke swished two free throws to draw the Royals within two at 17-15, but Wilson countered with back-to-back layups by Chelcie Forrester. Townsend reached double figures with her second three-pointer of the day at the 8:11 mark. The Royals took their first lead of the game on a Burke three-pointer and then grew that lead to as much as seven following two free throws by Anabelle Simmons and another Burke three-pointer to go up 29-22 with 6:29 left in the second. However, the advantage did not last as the Phoenix outscored EMU 23-10 for the rest of the second to take a 45-39 halftime lead.

Third Quarter
Wilson's cushion grew early in the second half as the Phoenix opened the third quarter on an 8-0 run to go up 14, 53-39. Jeriyah Osborne got EMU's first basket of the second half on a two-pointer jumper at the 8:06 mark. The Royals chipped away at the deficit a bit through the third quarter, closing the gap to seven by the end of the period, trailing 72-65.

Fourth Quarter
The Phoenix put a real damper on EMU's comeback hopes by opening the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run. The Royals needed nearly three-and-a-half minutes to get their first basket of the fourth as Burke nailed another shot from beyond the arc at the 6:31 mark. Jazmyn Taylor followed that up with a layup, bringing the Royals back to within single-digits at 78-70. But then Wilson ended any EMU comeback by scoring the next seven points unanswered to go up 85-70 with just three minutes ago. The Royals outscored the Phoenix 8-2 the rest of the way, but it was not enough.

Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Burke (26)
Rebounds: Simmons (9)
Assists: Townsend (6)
Steals: Burke, Osborne (4)
Blocks: Jazmyn Taylor (1)

What's Next
EMU Women's Basketball will play one more home game before adjourning for the Thanksgiving Break, hosting Mary Baldwin at Yoder Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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