Men's, women's basketball seasons off to solid start

Photo by Josiah Garber

The Lady Royals started their season with two wins in the EMU Tip-Off Tournament, over Ferrum College and Averett University. After a loss at home to Mary Baldwin College, the women's team went on the road to Roanoke and came back with a win to bring their overall record to 3-1.

Seniors Stephanie Mathews (pictured at right) and Amanda Renalds lead a young team into the 2005-06 season; both have already reached the mark of 1,000 career points. Junior Tara Jones, sophomores Dana Powell and Jolene Kratz, and freshman Kathleen Steele are also stepping up to keep the Lady Royals' winning record going.

The EMU men's basketball team began their season on Nov. 19, with an away victory over Southern Virginia. In their second game, at home against Shenandoah University, the Royals were handed a tough loss when SU scored at the buzzer to win by two. EMU bounced right back with two wins in the Bridgewater/Don Glick Invitational over both Greensboro College and Lancaster Bible College, bringing their record to 3-1. A loss last night to Roanoke College dropped the team's record to 3-2, but the Royals will look for another win on Saturday as they play against archrival Bridgewater College at home.

The team will be led this season by seniors E.J. Arrington and Dustin Galyon, who recently returned from last year's season-ending injury to score his 1,000th career point, as well as other strong returning players like junior Jason Sager and sophomores Corey Bailey, Korey Whiting, and Brad Parkes. Other players, from returning upperclassmen to new freshmen, will help the team shoot for a winning season.