SALEM, Va. -- Sixth-seeded Washington and Lee fell behind 9-0 at the start of game and shot just 26.8 percent from the floor (15-56), but the Generals recovered to post a 53-43 victory over third-seeded Eastern Mennonite in the first round of the ODAC Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday evening at the Salem Civic Center.

W&L (16-10) did not score in the opening seven minutes of the game, but responded to the Royals' opening run with a 15-0 surge to assume a 15-9 lead with 5:48 left before the half. EMU fought back to knot the game at 16-16, but the Generals carried a 22-19 lead into halftime.

W&L continued to struggle shooting from the floor in the second stanza and the Royals assumed a 37-33 lead with 6:18 left in the game. However, the Generals were able to close on a 20-6 run, aided by 8-for-8 shooting from the foul line in the final 1:26 in posting their first ODAC Tournament victory since the 1998-99 season.

Junior forward Hayley James (Mt. Sidney, Va./Fort Defiance) posted her third double-double in the last four games to lead W&L to the win. James scored a game-high 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range and hauled in a career-high 12 rebounds. Junior guard Emily Wolff (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) posted 13 points and eight boards, while junior forward Kristen Krouchick (Holland, Pa./Nazareth Academy) notched eight points, seven rebounds and three assists. Senior center Jessica Hunsinger (Mayer, Ariz./Orme School) added six points, eight boards and five blocks.

Eastern Mennonite (17-8) was paced by Lele Shumate's nine points. Ebony Dennis and Carolyn Riley chipped in eight points each.

Washington and Lee will now take on second-seeded Virginia Wesleyan in the semifinals on Saturday night at 8:00 pm.

-- GENERALS --