MELBOURNE, Fla. - A resilient Embry-Riddle women's basketball team never quit in a 75-65 road loss to Florida Tech on Saturday. The Eagles (2-1), who once trailed by 20 in the first half, got it down to an eight-point deficit with 22 seconds left, but the veteran Panthers (3-0) held off the Blue and Gold charge to deliver ERAU its first loss of the 2015-16 season.

Mercedes Jorge led the Eagles with 15 points, including a trio of triples, while Taylor Cyphers, Sabrina Whiting and Ashley McWilliams also reached double-figures offensively, but FIT's Shequana Harris dropped 23 points to pace the Panthers as FIT shot 42 percent from the floor and went 23-for-32 from the free throw line.

Lauren Ellenberger tied the game early on with a pair of free throws that made it 4-4 at the eight-minute mark, but FIT responded with an 8-0 run to take a 12-4 lead midway through the period.

A three from Jorge stemmed the tide, and another three from the junior a few moments later brought ERAU within two at 15-13 with 3:59 to go in the first quarter. However, it was the home team that ended the stanza on a 13-5 run to enjoy a 10-point cushion heading into the second quarter.

Ellenberger made the first basket of the second quarter, and when McWilliams made a three at the 7:37 mark it cut the lead to 32-25.

Again, the Panthers had a run in them, pushing the FIT advantage to 45-25 with 2:07 before the half.

Embry-Riddle came back with a 9-0 run to end the half as Laniere Coleman tallied four of those points on assists from Jorge.

FIT came out of the lockerroom with a strong offensive showing, going back up by 17 when Harris made a step-back jumper with 7:30 remaining in the period.

ERAU got it down to a 10-point deficit when Cyphers made a pair of free throws with just over four minutes left, and Cyphers made a triple at the 1:44 mark that brought the Eagles within single-digits at 61-52 before Florida Tech scored the last four points of the period for a 13-point lead before the fourth quarter started.

The fourth quarter was a struggle for both teams offensively, but a McWilliams layup got the visitors to withing 10 at 68-58 with three minutes to go.

After a free throw from FIT, Whiting nailed a trey to cut the lead to eight with 38 seconds left, but the Panthers made their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

Embry-Riddle shot 37 percent for the game and 81 percent from the free throw line.

ERAU is back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 when the Eagles travel to Tampa for a 5:30 p.m. tip against the Spartans.