HARRISONBURG, Va. – Eastern Mennonite University prevented visiting Shenandoah from starting its first winning streak of the 2005-06 basketball season Saturday afternoon with a 65-49 non-league victory.
EMU (4-1) took a 26-24 lead into the halftime lockerroom and broke open the contest with an 11-3 run early in the second. Trailing 29-26 following a
Valerie Samples jumper at the 18:31 mark, Shenandoah (1-4) saw its hosts score 11 points to the Hornets three in the next 6:07 to take a 40-29 lead with 11:54 remaining.
Stephanie Herrold finally stopped the bleeding with a bucket at the 11:38 mark, but the Lady Royals then went on an 8-3 run in the next 2:22 to erase any thoughts of an SU comeback.
A pair of Samples free throws and a
Jessica Young jumper allowed the Hornets to cut the deficit to 12, but coach Kathy Orsini's club would remain at least 10 points behind for all but 14 seconds of the remaining playing time.
A 6-0 run allowed Shenandoah to get within nine at 58-49 with 1:17 remaining, but EMU scored the game's final seven points.
Samples led her club with 13 points while sophomore
Netagia Foremanadded eight. Junior
Alicia Sanders led on the boards with seven.
Amanda Renalds had 18 and Stephanie Mathews 12 for the victors.
Box Score/Play by Play
Shenandoah is back in action on Tuesday at home against the College of Notre Dame. Game time is 5:30.