THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Sabrina Whiting scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team to a 66-59 win at Thomas on Tuesday night. Whiting was 6-of-13 from the field and 9-of-13 from the free throw line and also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out a team-high four assists and swiped a game-high four steals.
The Eagles (11-5, 3-3) also received double-digit point totals from Taylor Cyphers (14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Mercedes Jorge (12 points, 10 rebounds).
Courtney Saunds led the Night Hawks (9-7, 3-4) with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Ivory Smith chipped in 12 points and seven boards. Jessica Anderson led the team with five assists to go along with eight points.
It took just over five minutes for ERAU to take its first lead of the game, but after Cyphers' layup put the Eagles in front, 8-6, the Blue and Gold was in control for the rest of the half. Kalah Martin capped an 8-0 run with a layup that put the Eagles ahead 14-6 with 12:48 left in the period.
Embry-Riddle maintained a comfortable lead throughout the half, increasing the margin to double-figures on a three-pointer from Ashley McWilliams with 2:03 to play before halftime that put ERAU ahead, 37-27. Jorge knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead to 39-27, which would be the score heading into halftime.
The Eagles shot 46.2% from the field in the first half, while limiting TU to just 27.5% shooting. Embry-Riddle was also plus-11 at the free throw line, converting 13-of-14 free throws while Thomas attempted just two.
The Blue and Gold came out in the second half looking to pull away, and within 2:35 the Eagles had built the lead up to 17 points (46-29). Thomas came roaring back, scoring the game's next 10 points to trim the deficit to just seven (46-39) with 10:56 to play.
The Eagles briefly stemmed the tide, but the Night Hawks continued to dominate the next few minutes, and eventually the home team pulled even on a three from Shamari Josey that tied the score at 50 with 6:13 left.
Embry-Riddle showed great resiliency, bouncing back to regain the lead and within two-and-a-half minutes, ERAU was back in front by six (59-53). The Blue and Gold didn't allow TU to cut the lead down to less than four over the final minutes, eventually coming away with the 66-59 victory.
For the game, ERAU shot 36.5% from the floor while Thomas shot 31.%, but the biggest difference came at the charity stripe, where the Eagles were 24-of-31 and the Night Hawks were 11-of-12.
Embry-Riddle returns home to host Johnson & Wales in another Sun Conference doubleheader on Thursday, Jan. 22. The women will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. with the men slated for a 7:30 p.m. start.
