EMU women’s basketball stung on the road

A two-day postponement due to snow and the long bus ride were not a problem for the EMU basketball women, but finishing strong was.  The Royals had a 19-6 start Monday at Emory & Henry, but were out-scored 7-2 over the final five minutes in a 71-67 loss on the road.

All-American Jess Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) scored 11 of EMU’s first 13 points as they jumped ahead 13-5.  After a single free throw from the Wasps, sophomore Sa’Mone Moore (Covington, Va./Covington) hit back-to-back threes to bump the lead to 19-6 just 7:17 into play.  Eastern Mennonite led 21-12 after the first period.

The Royals kept their lead until late in the second period, when Emory & Henry used an 11-0 run to get in front 29-27. Shaneyea Conwell (Newport News, Va./Warwick) stemmed the tide with a three-point play and the teams were locked in a 33-33 tie at halftime.

The third was a back-and-forth affair, with neither squad leading by more than three points.  EMU scored the final four of the frame to lead 54-52 going into the fourth.

It looked like the final 10 minutes would continue the same pattern, with Jazmine Carter‘s (Fairfax, Va./Oakton) layup giving the Royals a 65-64 edge with 5:03 to go.  The women went cold with missed shots and turnovers, but Emory & Henry didn’t fare much better.  The Wasps finally worked to a 68-65 lead with 2:51 to go after free throws on two straight possessions.

Both teams continued to miss chances and Eastern Mennonite was forced to foul in the final seconds.  EHC inched the margin to 70-65 with 10 seconds to go.  Moore put back a missed trey from Rheinheimer with seven ticks left, but one more free throw from the Wasps made it a two-possession game and iced the decision.

The Royals grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, but also gave up 13 to their hosts.  They were simply out-done by 35.5% shooting, their second-lowest mark of the season.

Rheinheimer led all players with 26 points and eight rebounds.  Conwell set career highs with 16 points, eight made free throws and three steals in providing a needed presence inside.  Carter scored nine off the bench while Alicia Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) added seven rebounds, including four offensive.

Tamara Brewster led Emory & Henry (12-4 / 6-2 ODAC) with 20 points.  Megan Jacoby had 12 points, nine assists and five steals, while Taylor Blevins had 14 rebounds and nine points.

Eastern Mennonite (11-5 / 4-4 ODAC) hits the road again on Wednesday, travelling to play Virginia Wesleyan.