DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team posted a strong performance in its final preseason tune-up of 2016-17 on Saturday, besting former Sun Conference foe Ave Maria 85-46 at the ICI Center. The Eagles will open the program's third season on Nov. 11 when they host Lindenwood at 5 p.m.
 
Junior Sabrina Whiting and senior Mercedes Jorge led all scorers, tallying 26 and 21 points, respectively, while junior Tara Fields led all players on the boards with 11 rebounds.
 
The game was tied for the first 2:34, but a Whiting three-pointer gave the Eagles a three-point lead, and from that point the home team didn't look back. After jumping out to an 18-11 lead in the first quarter, the Eagles blew the game wide open in the second frame, outscoring the Gyrenes 22-8. ERAU then went on a 17-2 run to start the third quarter as the Eagle defense limited the AMU offense to just two points in the first 7:15 of the period.
 
The Eagles received a balanced effort from the 14 players that took the floor, including 22 assists on 36 field goals.
 
ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson's squad will play 26 games in 2016-17, including 20 games against Sunshine State Conference opponents, as Embry-Riddle completes it final year of provisional member in the transition to NCAA II.