For immediate release – 1/17/2015 - #223
Hornets Claim Share of First Place with 70-66 Victory

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg College women's basketball team claimed a share of first place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) with Saturday's 70-66 victory over Eastern Mennonite University.

Eastern Mennonite found itself in trouble early in the first half as Shakeerah Sykes, who entered the game averaging 14.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, picked up two early fouls and had to head to the bench with 17:07 left in the half.

The Hornet defense took advantage of the loss of EMU's inside presence, gambling on the outside to force 14 turnovers and six steals in the first half. Lynchburg managed 10 fast break points in the first 20 minutes due in large part to the disruption caused in the Royal backcourt.

The Hornets were ahead 19-12 but the Royals scored the next eight points to take a 20-19 lead with under six to play in the half.

Sykes reentered the game at 9:18 when the EMU run happened, scoring six of her team's eight points to gain the advantage.

Lynchburg closed out the half on a 14-4 run and led 33-24 at intermission. Charmaine Hairston scored six in the spurt to close the half while four Hornets scored in the balanced effort.

The second half was similar to the first as EMU continued to deal with foul trouble on the interior.

Sykes picked up her third foul at 15:20 and another 20 seconds later while her replacement was waiting on the sideline to enter for her. Lynchburg took advantage of it as the Royals needed to rely more heavily on Jess Rheinheimer for scoring.

Lynchburg led 54-49 with 5:41 remaining when Sykes came back into the contest. She subsequently hit a jumper before Marla Zumfelde knocked down a three on the next trip to tie it.

The Hornets showed the importance of the offensive rebound the next time down as Sammi Goldsmith missed a three but Sarah Coon corralled one of her team-high 11 boards and found Shannon Allan for the score.

Following a miss by EMU, Olivia DeFrancesco missed a shot but followed her miss and forced an offensive board on a big hustle play. Chaney Forbush scored out of the ensuing inbounds play to put the Hornets back up four at 58-54. Lauren Penley scored four straight following the Forbush basket to cap the Lynchburg 8-0 run with a 62-54 edge.

Allan led the Hornets with 17 points while Goldsmith ended with six points, five boards and seven assists. It was her fourth-straight contest with at least seven assists. Forbush (13), DeFrancesco (10) and Hairston (10) rounded out the Hornets in double-figures.

Rheinheimer led EMU (11-3/5-1 ODAC) with 19 points while Sykes finished with 18 points and 13 boards in 21 minutes of action.

Lynchburg (10-5/5-1) travels to Virginia Wesleyan College (9-5/3-2) on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. ODAC contest.

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