FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team improved its overall record to 9-3 on the year, picking up a 57-53 road win against Nova Southeastern (8-5) on Friday. Playing their first game since Dec. 18, the Blue and Gold shot 42.7 percent from the field and improved to 6-0 against Sunshine State Conference competition this season.
 
Sabrina Whiting showed her affinity for playing in the NSU Arena once again as she followed up last season's 27-point performance with a season-high 25 points on Friday on the Sharks' home floor. Whiting's offensive output included five three-pointers, which was more than NSU's combined three-point field goal total of two.
 
Mercedes Jorge and Tara Fields posted solid all-around performances as Jorge tallied nine points, 10 rebounds and six assists, while Fields contributed nine points, eight boards and three blocks. Lauren Ellenberger was the only other Eagle player to score in double figures, finishing with 10.
 
With the exception of two minutes in the first quarter, the Eagles led the entire game. Trailing 4-3 in the first, ERAU went on a 7-0 run to overtake the Sharks 10-4 and never looked back. After leading by five at the end of the first, the Eagles increased their advantage to nine (32-23) at the half and held a 13-point (40-27) cushion midway through the third quarter.
 
The fourth quarter saw the Sharks attempt a comeback. NSU outscored the Eagles 8-0 in the first 5:20 of the period and at the 4:42 mark, Samantha Logan scored a layup to make it a one-point game (44-43).
 
Less than 20 seconds later, Jorge connected on a jumper and on the Eagles' next trip down the court Whiting knocked down a three to give ERAU a six-point (49-43) cushion.
 
The Sharks were unsuccessful in their first 17 three-point attempts of the game, but with 1:31 remaining and the Eagles still holding a six-point advantage, the Sharks got the ball to Megan Piggott on the wing and Piggott recorded NSU's first trey of the evening to make it 49-46.
 
Whiting answered with another three of her own, but on the other end of the court, Piggott scored from long range once again and a Christine Prasse jumper made the score 54-53 in favor of the Eagles with 34 seconds left to play.
 
On the Eagles' next possession, the Sharks elected to send Whiting to the charity stripe and the junior hit both free throws, giving the ball back to the Sharks with ERAU leading 56-53. The Sharks got the ball to Piggott on their next trip down the floor, but she was unable to extend her three-point shooting streak.
 
Jorge corralled the rebound and converted on one of two free throw attempts to secure the win.
 
"I was really happy with our defensive effort tonight and how well we communicated," ERAU Head Coach Lisa-Nuxol Wilson said. "Nova is a very good team and we knew we needed to defend well to be in the game with them. They played an aggressive zone the entire game, which we hadn't seen a lot of, so that was good for us to play against and learn from. 
 
"Overall, we are really proud of our entire team for helping to prepare each other for this game and we can really see our progress from last year with the first game after Christmas break."
 
The Eagles will play their first game of 2017 on the road on Wednesday when they travel to Melbourne for a 5:30 p.m. tip against Florida Tech.