WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team used a strong second-half performance to earn the first Sunshine State Conference win in program history on Wednesday. The Eagles, who trailed by seven at halftime, enjoyed a 13-point swing in the third quarter to take a 74-60 road win over Palm Beach Atlantic (0-3, 0-1 SSC).
 
A balanced offense featured four Eagle players scoring in double figures, led by Tara Fields and Sabrina Whiting with 15 points apiece, while Nikki Tucker contributed 13 and Sigrid Sandstrom added 10. Tucker led the Eagles' rebounding effort with eight as ERAU improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in league play.
 
The Blue and Gold scored the first bucket of the game and led by five midway through the first quarter before PBAU closed out the period on a 7-3 run to take a 16-15 edge.
 
Tucker's three to start the second period sparked a 6-0 Eagle run and the visitors led by four (20-16) just under four minutes into the quarter. However, first-quarter fouls sidelined starters Lauren Ellenberger and Tara Fields, as well as key reserve Jessica Savage, who were all forced to sit out the period with two fouls apiece. The Sailfish, led by Hannah Grimm who scored 13 of her game-high 23 points in the second, went on a 12-4 spurt to end the quarter and led 35-28 at the intermission.
 
The Eagles came out firing to start the second half and used an 18-6 run to erase the seven-point halftime deficit. The ERAU offense was 9-of-18 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, while the defense shut Grimm down and limited the Sailfish to just five made field goals, resulting in a 52-46 Eagle advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
The Blue and Gold battled foul trouble in the early stages of the game, but in the final minutes, the teams' fortunes were reversed as penalties forced both of PBAU's starting post players were forced to sit out the majority of the quarter, which allowed the Eagles to dominate on the inside. Nine of the Eagles' 10 field goals were scored in the paint and a 22-14 fourth-quarter advantage sealed the 14-point win.
 
"I'm proud of the way we adjusted in the second half and came out more focused and defended the way we are capable," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson said. "Early foul trouble hurt us, but our bench did a great job and we were able to keep fresh legs and execute offensively. Sigrid Sandstorm did a great defensive job tonight and we started playing better team defense in the second half. I'm happy we got a win on the road, which is always tough in this conference, but we need to come out focused and ready from the beginning."

The Eagles will play their first home game of the season on Saturday when they host another SSC foe, Saint Leo, at the ICI Center. First tip is scheduled for 4 p.m.