HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – It was a great gameday atmosphere inside Yoder Arena on Wednesday night as EMU Women’s Basketball hosted their annual Rowdy Royals game, taking on Randolph College. Sadly, the home crowd went home empty-handed as the visiting WildCats picked up a 76-68 win. Randolph got their first ODAC win of the season, while the Royals’ quest for their first conference triumph continues.

Grace Burke and Lauren Townsend shined for the Royals in defeat, scoring 25 and 20 points, respectively. Burke’s effort was just one point off of the career high for the sophomore from Stephens City. Townsend tallied at least 20 points for the second time in three games.

For the WildCats, Pariz Minor had a career day, turning in a double-double of 21 points and 16 rebounds. Sophia Stevens and Taniya Jackson also ended the game in double figures, collecting 16 and 13 points, respectively.

Records: EMU 5-9, 0-5 ODAC | Randolph 7-7, 1-4 ODAC

Highlights
First Quarter
Randolph put in the first four points of the contest before Townsend got EMU on the board with a layup. In fact, Townsend scored the Royals’ first eight points to keep the home team in the game early. Randolph capped off the quarter with a Jaellen Hillary jumper with 13 seconds left in the period to put Randolph up 22-13 after 10 minutes of play.

Second Quarter
While the WildCats got the first bucket of the quarter to go up 11, the Royals responded with a 6-0 run to get within five points at the 6:10 mark. EMU got as close as three on two separate occasions before Jackson scored four unanswered points to give the WildCats a 37-29 lead at intermission.

Third Quarter
The second half started out sluggish for both sides as EMU and Randolph combined for just one basket in the first 3:17 of the third quarter. Taylor nailed a pair of free throws to make it 39-31, but the WIldCats answered with a 6-2 run to go up 12, 45-33. Try as the Royals might, they could not get back within single digits for the rest of the third as Randolph went into the final 10 minutes up 57-44.

Fourth Quarter
Randolph further expanded their cushion with a 6-1 run over the opening 3:07 of the fourth quarter to make it a 63-45 ball game. It a 70-53 game with 3:33 remaining, but the Royals did not go down without a fight. EMU went on a 9-0 scoring run in just over a minute of game time. Townsend got things started with two free throws, followed by a Burke three-pointer, a Jayda Jones layup, and another two-point jumper from Burke. By the end of the rally, the Royals were back within eight points at 70-62. Minor ended the Royals’ streak with a layup, but Burke immediately responded with yet another three-pointer to draw EMU within seven, 72-65. Following a Stevens free throw, Townsend drilled a floating jumpshot to make it a two-possession game at 75-67. But Randolph made the plays in the closing seconds to secure their victory and EMU’s defeat.

Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Burke (25)
Rebounds: Todd (6)
Assists: Townsend (5)
Steals: Dingus (3)
Blocks: Todd (1)

What’s Next
EMU Women’s Basketball stays home this Saturday, Jan. 17 when they host another ODAC rival in Averett. Opening tip is slated for approximately 4:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with men’s basketball, who will also be playing Averett at 2 p.m.

— EMU Athletics —