Eastern Mennonite University Men's Basketball 2015
EMU basketball teams are in Salem, Virginia at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament, which begins Thursday Feb. 26. The Lady Royals are ranked first in the ODAC, and the men's team is seeded No. 4 in the conference postseason play. (Photo by Scott Eyre)

Men and women’s basketball teams gear up for 2014-15 ODAC tourney

Updated February 26, 2015

Winter 2015 held some uncertain moments for the Eastern Mennonite men’s and women’s basketball teams, but both squads are expected to be a force in the upcoming Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament, which begins February 27 in Salem, Virginia at the Salem Civic Center.

Lady Royals Powerhouse Record Includes Home Winning Streak of 30 Games

EMU Women's Basketball Team 2014-15
The 2014-15 EMU Women’s Basketball Team. See the roster and schedule and results.

The EMU women’s basketball team closed regular season play out in February 2015 by solidifying their first place ranking in the ODAC. The team’s overall record is 21-3 (15-1 conference) as of February 26, 2015.

That powerhouse record includes a home winning streak of 30 games: their last loss in Yoder Arena occurred over two seasons ago in January 2013.

In early January, the Lady Royals’ versatile forward Jess Rheinheimer earned her second spot on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week and was named the National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). This is the first season that the USBWA is recognizing national players of the week from Division III.

EMU Lady Royals Jess Rheinheimer
Lady Royals’ versatile forward Jess Rheinheimer

In February Rheinhemer was named one of five in nation to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team. A member of the EMU honors program, Rheinheimer holds a 3.96 GPA in the university’s well-respected nursing program, along with a minor in history.

Shakeerah Sykes picked up her ninth double double of the season during the women's January 31 win over Virginia Wesleyan. (Photo by Scott Eyre)
Shakeerah Sykes picked up her ninth double double of the season during the women’s January 31 win over Virginia Wesleyan. (Photo by Scott Eyre)

Men’s Team Seeded No. 4 in Tourney

2014-15 EMU Men's Basketball Team
The 2014-15 EMU Men’s Basketball Team. See the roster and schedule and results.

The Runnin Royals have gathered a number of career records and personal honors even after battling through a tough non-conference and ODAC schedule.

The team has a record of 16-9 overall (9-7 conference) as of February 26, 2015.

The men clinched the No. 4 seed with an 88-71 victory over Roanoke College.

Some of the honors accrued this season were for senior David Falk, who was named ODAC Player of the Week after collecting double doubles during dramatic wins in mid-January.  

As of Feb. 22 the 6-6 center is ranked third in the nation for rebounds per game. Falk is 14th in the nation in free throw attempts, having logged 192 throughout the regular season. He is currently ranked 12th in the nation in blocks. (More info: www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d3/)

EMU Men's Basketball David Falk Dunks
Senior Center David Falk’s alley-oop dunk from senior James Williams with 4:39 to play started the decisive 11-0 run that led to a sixth straight win over rival Bridgewater College. (photo by Scott Eyre)

Marcel Crump, an All-ODAC senior, was named Royal Athlete of the Week on January 22 after he went multiple games hitting 100 percent of his attempts from the free throw line.

Runnin Royals’ starting point guard James Williams earned the Royal Athlete of the Week honor when he logged career bests of 18 points and nine assists.

“I like setting my teammates up to score,” said Williams, a senior from Capitol Heights, Md.  “When I give an assist I feel like I scored the bucket myself.”

Eastern Mennonite University Men's Basketball Team Plays Shenandoah University
EMU’s Woody Furbush hit a layup to cap a decisive 18-3 run with six minutes left in the January 28 game against Shenandoah University. The men won the game 71-53. (Photo by Scott Eyre)

Tournament Game Info in Salem, Va.

Check out the ODAC website for live stats and video for postseason games yet to be played, and scores and game reports from completed games.

Men’s basketball: odaconline.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/bracket

Women’s basketball: odaconline.com/sports/wbkb

Games are played at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia.