DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team notched an exciting victory at the ICI Center on Wednesday, downing Sunshine State Conference foe Rollins 60-58. The win marked the Eagles' first in three tries over the Tars and improved their record to 3-0, while Rollins fell to 2-1 on the year.
The Eagles trailed for 35 minutes of the 40-minute contest but mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Tars 19-7 in that frame to take the win.
"We played a great fourth quarter and really picked up our intensity on defense," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson noted. "I wish we would have come out with that the first three quarters , but I'm proud of the girls for not quitting and fighting their way back. We are starting to show experience in some areas, which has taken time to get to with us being such a young program going into year three. We are still learning and growing every game, but I love our fight and heart and the total team effort from all 14 players on a daily basis as they play for each other".
Lauren Ellenberger posted the best single-game performance of her career with a career-high 21 points to go with seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals.
Sabrina Whiting matched Ellenberger's scoring output with 21 points of her own and contributed four assists.
The Eagles led 4-0 early in the contest, but the Tars overtook ERAU on a Marie Gilbert three and a Tanaya Jones bucket and maintained a comfortable lead throughout the first three quarters.
The Tars matched its largest lead of the night with 8:14 left in the game when Vernisha Andrews scored her only basket of the night to make it a 14-point (55-41) game. The Eagles managed just one shot and committed two fouls and a turnover over the next 1:30, but after a Rollins miss, they regrouped on offense and got the ball to Whiting who knocked down one of her four three-pointers to cut the lead to 11 (55-44). That bucket marked the start of the comeback for ERAU.
After a
Tara Fields free throw made it a 10-point game (55-45)
Mercedes Jorge drew a charge to give the ball back to ERAU. The Eagles got the ball back outside to Whiting and the junior drilled another three to cut the lead to 55-48. Jorge came up with a big rebound on the defensive end and once again, ERAU was able to get the ball to Whiting who drew a foul as she drove to the basket She hit the layup as well as the free throw to make the score 55-51 with 3:42 left to play.
Both sides traded points over the next 1:30 and with 2:11 showing on the clock, Whiting hit another layup that put the Eagles within two points (57-55). After Jorge corralled a Rollins miss,
Laniere Coleman found Ellenberger on the wing and the sophomore drilled her fifth trey to give the Eagles their first lead since the first quarter, 58-57.
With 58 seconds left, the Tars made one of two free throws to tie the score at 58. The Eagles were unable to add to their tally on the next possession, giving the ball back to the visitors with 21 seconds remaining, but another strong defensive effort resulted in a Rollins charge and the ball went back to the Eagles with seven seconds showing on the clock. Nuxol-Wilson called a timeout to draw up one last play and the strategy worked as Ellenberger got the ball into Coleman in the post and the senior created separation from her defender and finished the layup to put the Eagles back on top 60-58 with just one second left to play.
The Tars were able to inbound the ball but the Eagles forced another turnover and held on to the ball as time expired to secure the win.
ERAU will be back in action on Saturday at 5 p.m. when they host Eckerd at the ICI Center.
