LAKE WALES, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team found themselves on the losing end of a 64-58 contest at Warner on Wednesday evening, snapping a six-game winning streak. The Eagles shot nearly 50-percent from the floor, but 13 missed free throws and 28 turnovers cost the Blue and Gold as ERAU fell to 8-4 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
Kalah Martin led all players with 17 points and added a game-high five assists, while Taylor Cyphers chipped in 15 points and Mercedes Jorge contributed 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Warner (5-6, 1-1) was led by Baylie Bridges' 14 points and five assists, with no other player scoring in double-figures. Marie Fleurival scored seven points and Hannah Kotzen and Corlisa Pope each chipped in six. In total, 11 Royals scored at least three points.
Neither team got off to a good start shooting the ball, as Warner clung to a 6-5 lead with more than five minutes elapsed in the first half. Cyphers knocked down a pair of free throws on back-to-back possessions to push the Eagles ahead by three, 16-13, with 11:21 left in the half.
The Royals bounced back with a 7-0 run to take a 20-16 lead with just over eight minutes to play until halftime, and Warner would maintain the lead for a majority of the frame.
The Eagles closed out the first half on a 7-0 run of their own, capped by a layup from Martin with just a few seconds remaining that gave ERAU a 30-29 lead at the break.
Jorge scored a layup on the opening possession of the second half to extend the Eagle lead to three and within three-and-a-half minutes the Blue and Gold were in front by eight (41-33).
Over the next seven minutes the Eagles did not make a field goal, scoring just two points on a pair of Cyphers free throws. During that span, Warner went on a 16-2 run to jump out to a 49-43 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Martin drilled a triple to cut the deficit to 49-46 and a couple minutes later she hit another three that gave Embry-Riddle the lead once again at 53-51.
The Royals wasted little time in regaining the advantage, taking a 55-54 lead with 5:02 remaining on a pair of Pope free throws.
After Warner had pushed the lead to 59-54, Jorge hit a free throw and Ashley McWilliams connected on a clutch three-pointer to make it a one-point game (59-58) with 1:45 to play.
After a defensive stop, the Eagles had a chance to take the lead but turned it over with just under a minute left. On the ensuing possession, Bridges hit a three to make it 62-58, after which the Blue and Gold turned it over again, all but ending any hopes of a comeback.
The Eagles return home on Saturday, Jan. 10 to host Ave Maria in another Sun Conference matchup. The women's game is slated for a 5 p.m. tip-off and will be followed by the men's game against Ave Maria at approximately 7 p.m.
