HARRISONBURG, Va.- It was a special day for EMU Women's Basketball, hosting the University of Lynchburg for their Senior Day. Prior to tip-off, the team honored current seniors Laila Glymph, Jayla Gray and Adrianna Jacobs as well as former player Mya Hamlet, who graduated in December, for their contributions to the program.

In the game, the Royals used a strong second quarter and an all-around team effort to best the visiting Hornets, 62-51. This marks the third consecutive season that EMU has won on Senior Day.

While the day was about the seniors, it was first-year Lauren Townsend who led the way with a career-high 18 points and seven rebounds. Gray added eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

As for Lynchburg, Olivia Harris led all scorers with 25 points, reaching the 1,000-career points milestone with the Hornets.

Records: EMU 11-12, 3-11 ODAC | Lynchburg 8-14, 5-10 ODAC

Highlights
First Quarter
Fittingly, it was a senior who got the scoring started for EMU as Gray got a layup 16 seconds into the contest. Lynchburg countered with a 14-4 run over 3:55 of game action, with 12 of those points coming on three-pointers to give the Hornets a 14-6 lead. The Royals responded with six unanswered points, with Lauren Townsend completing a traditional three-point play and Jayda Jones drilling a three-pointer to bring EMU within two at 14-12. The Hornets outscored the Royals 9-3 the rest of the period to make it a 23-15 game after 10 minutes.
 
Second Quarter
The Royals roared at the beginning of the second period with a 7-0 run over a nearly five-minute span. Jones got things going with a driving layup, followed closely by a Townsend floater and free throw, and capped off by a jumper courtesy of Jazmyn Taylor. After a pair of Lynchburg free throws, EMU tallied the final seven points of the half to take a 29-25 lead into the locker room.
 
Third Quarter
EMU struck first in the second half, scoring four points from a Gray layup and a Townsend floating jumpshot. The Hornets found an answer though, as Harris singlehandedly reeled off 10 points to edge Lynchburg back out front by two, 35-33. Jeriyah Osborne tied things at 35 with a pair of free throws, and then Grace Burke sank a three-pointer after a Lynchburg free throw to make it EMU 38, Lynchburg 36. With the Royals clinging to a one-point lead at 41-40, they tacked on the final five points of the third off of a Burke three-pointer and a Lexie Dingus layup.
 
Fourth Quarter
Osborne wasted no time extending EMU's lead, drilling a three-pointer to put the Royals up 49-40. Lynchburg got as close as six thanks to a three-ball of their own from Audra Petty. That is when the Royals went to work at the charity stripe, going on an 7-0 run consisting solely of free throws. Five of the seven free throws came from Glymph, while Townsend made the last two to push EMU's lead to 13. From there, Lynchburg got no closer than 10 as EMU capped off the Senior Day win.

Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Townsend (18)
Rebounds: Gray (11)
Assists: Townsend (3)
Steals: Osborne (3)
Blocks: Gray, Taylor (2)
 
What's Next
EMU Women's Basketball will play in front of the home fans for one final time this season when they host Washington & Lee on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Tip-off from Yoder Arena is set for 5 p.m., and it will be the team's s Play4Kay Game.

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