WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Wednesday, falling to sixth-ranked Rollins 66-60 at the Tars' Warden Arena. Wednesday's contest was battle between the top two teams in the South Region who entered the contest with identical overall and league records. In the end it was the Tars who were able to come away with their unbeaten streak intact, improving to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in Sunshine State Conference play, while the Eagles fall to 6-1 and 2-1 in the league.
"That was a tough loss for us," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson said. "Early foul trouble by starters and not taking care of the ball hurt us. For the first time this year we had more turnovers than assists. Rollins is a good team, and we won't beat good teams on their home floor if we don't defend, rebound and take care of the ball.
We played really hard tonight and had it down to the wire. We just needed to play a little bit smarter. These are all things we can work on and be ready for next time, though, and I know our young ladies will continue to work their butts off to prepare each other and themselves. "
The game got off to a slow start offensively, as both sides came out strong on the defensive end, resulting in just over two minutes of scoreless basketball to start the contest. Things turned around for both teams in the closing minutes of the quarter with 13 of the period's 17 made field goals coming within the last five minutes.
Lauren Ellenberger led the way for the Blue and Gold with 11 first-quarter points, but at the end of the frame, the Tars had 23-20 edge.
The second quarter began in similar fashion to the first as both Rollins and ERAU combined for just nine points in the first five minutes of the frame, and at the 5:06 mark, the score was tied, 26-26.
Sabrina Whiting hit her first three of the game to put the Blue and Gold ahead 29-26, but that was last basket the Eagles would score in the quarter, as foul trouble landed two Eagle starters on the bench for the remainder of the period, allowing the home team to go on an 8-0 run and take a 34-29 lead into the halftime break.
The Eagles used tough defense to make up the deficit in the third quarter. ERAU bested the Tars 5-1 on the offensive boards and that translated into a 6-0 advantage in second chance points.
Tara Fields took over the Eagle offense in the third and her 10-point output helped the Eagles draw level with the Tars, 46-46, heading into the fourth.
Neither team led by more that two points in the first 6:30 of a fourth quarter that featured three ties and four lead changes. At the 2:53 mark, Nikki Tucker drove to the basket and her layup put ERAU ahead 58-57, but Julia Ingler answered immediately on the other end at that sparked a 9-2 run that gave Rollins the six-point victory.
Ellenberger led all players with 17 points to go with five assists, four rebounds and four steals. Fields added 16 points and pulled down four rebounds, while Whiting tallied 10 points ad five boards in the Eagle effort.
The Eagles have a weeklong break before their next game, which will be against SSC foe Florida Southern in Lakeland on Dec. 6. First tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
