SALEM - The Roanoke College women's basketball team battled Eastern Mennonite University in a close 69-65 win, picking up the Maroons first Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory of the season. The Maroons now have a record of 5-7; 1-3 ODAC, while the Royals sit with a mark of 9-4, 3-1 in ODAC play.

Eastern Mennonite entered today's contest as one of three ODAC teams with an unblemished, 3-0 conference record. The Maroons were looking for their first ODAC win, as the victory over Hollins was not considered a conference match-up in the schedule. Roanoke defeated the Royals for the first time since the start of the 2010-11 season.

Today's men's and women's basketball games were part of Roanoke Basketball Alumni Day, presented by the Maroon Club. Women's basketball alumni joined together in the morning to play in a friendly alumni game, leading up to the ODAC doubleheader. Before the women's contest, head coach Susan Dunagan was joined on the court by a number of her former players, as she was presented with a plaque for her 600^th career win, achieved earlier this season. Dunagan became just the eighth NCAA Division III coach to achieve the 600-win milestone.

The Maroons opened the contest with a 7-2 run, with four points from Paxton Gwin and three from Kelsey Smith. At the 13:41 mark, Bridget Holleran knocked down a three pointer to keep the team's lead at five, 12-7. Eastern Mennonite proceeded to go on a 8-0 run, capturing the 16-12 lead. With eight minutes left to play, Laurel Hankins hit a three-pointer of her own to reclaim the lead, 17-16. After a Markia Beckwith jumper, Roanoke went on a 8-0 run of its own, capped by Hannah Ward hitting a layup to put the Maroons ahead 27-18. The Royals finished the half on a 9-2 run, pulling back within two. Roanoke entered the locker room with a two point, 29-27 lead.

At the half, Hankins led the Maroons in scoring with seven points, while also having a team-high four rebounds. Kelsey Smith tallied five points in the period as well. Bianca Ygarza led all players with nine points for EMU.

The game stayed tight through the second half as play intensified in final five minutes of the period. With 4:58 on the clock, the Royals trailed the Maroons 55-52, until Marla Zumfelde knocked down a three pointer to tie the game. Just 18 seconds later, Paxton Gwin answered with a trey of her own, putting the Maroons up again by three. After another Royals basket, Meghan Gadell hit a three pointer of her own to expand Roanoke's lead to four, 61-57. Paxton Gwin padded the lead with a free throw as well.

With 1:35 to play, Zumfelde hit another three-pointer to bring the game within two, 62-60. Zumfelde missed a three-point opportunity a few moments later that would have put the Royals ahead by one. Laurel Hankins knocked down a pair of free throws, extending Roanoke's lead to four points. Just seconds later, the Royals' Shakeerah Sykes made her way down the floor for a layup, making it a two-point game again.

Tatum McKee hit one of two free throws at the :41 mark, after the Royals fouled quickly. Roanoke's three point, 65-62 lead grew to five after Kelsey Smith was fouled and hit both free throws. On Eastern Mennonite's next possession, Steph Rheinheimer hit a three pointer, cutting the deficit to two, 67-65. The Royals were forced to foul, putting Smith back on the line for two shots. Smith hit both, then forced a turnover on EMU's final possession as Roanoke picked up the 69-65 win, its first in conference play.

The Maroons were led in scoring by Paxton Gwin, who tallied 19 points on the afternoon. Also in double-figures for Roanoke was Laurel Hankins, who finished with 13 points and a team high seven rebounds. Kelsey Smith finished third in scoring with nine points in the game.

Eastern Mennonite held the advantage in shooting percentage, hitting 36.5 percent of its shots from the field, compared to Roanoke's 34.4 percent. Roanoke had the edge from behind the arc though, knocking down 31 percent to the Royals' 27.3. On the boards, the Royals pulled down 49 to the Maroons' 36.

The Maroons return to action on Wednesday, January 15^th as they take on Emory & Henry College on the road. That contest is scheduled for a 7:00 PM start.

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