DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ashley McWilliams' three-point basket as time expired lifted the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team to a 69-66 win over Flagler (3-2), Friday at the ICI Center. The long-range bomb was only the sixth of the year for the senior who helped the Eagles extend their overall record to 8-1.
 
The Eagles prevailed despite committing a season-high 23 turnovers and trailing by as many as 10 points in a game whose flow was disrupted by the 47 fouls called by the officials, which resulted in disqualification for two Eagle starters. The teams were close in field goal percentage with ERAU shooting 45.3 percent from the field and Flagler shooting 44.6 percent, but the Eagles held the advantage from long range, not just at the buzzer, but throughout the contest, knocking down nine treys to just five by Flagler.
 
"I am very proud of our team for overcoming the adversity of foul trouble by starters, having a quick turnaround time from our conference road game on Wednesday, and final exams starting at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson said. "We didn't play great by any means tonight, but we found a way to stay in the game.

"I'm so excited for Ashley to hit the game winning shot for us! She is a true example of hard work and commitment and coachability, and that's why she was able to step up and play 39 minutes and hit a game-winner when her team needed her."
 
After a close first quarter, Flagler outscored the Eagles 20-12 in the second and led 39-29 at the half.
 
The Blue and Gold opened the third quarter on a 16-8 run that erased the 10-point deficit and tied the score a 47-47. At the 1:51 mark of the period, a Sabrina Whiting free throw gave the Eagles the lead (50-49) for the first time since the first quarter, but the advantage was short-lived as Alex Alford made a layup and a free throw that gave the Saints a 52-51 edge heading into the fourth.
 
Embry-Riddle and Flagler traded the lead throughout the first 5:30 of the fourth period. At the 4:32 mark, Whiting drained a three that sparked a 7-0 run and gave the Eagles a six-point (62-58) lead, which was their largest lead of the game. The Saints answered with a run of their own and with 1:22 left, Bri Roberts, Flagler's leading scorer, drove to the basket to tie things up at 66-66.
 
Following an Eagle miss with 56 seconds left, the Saints took the ball back down the court. Flagler managed to get the offensive rebound after Tara Fields blocked Rayven Wade's attempt, but Alford couldn't convert on the second chance opportunity and Morgan Ackermann grabbed the rebound for the Eagles, prompting Nuxol-Wilson to call a timeout and advance the basketball with 28 seconds remaining.
 
The Eagles got the ball to Whiting coming out of the timeout. Her shot bounced off the rim but hit a Flagler player and went out of bounds, giving the ball back to ERAU with five seconds showing on the clock. After another quick timeout to talk things over, the Eagles got the ball to Fields who was surrounded by Flagler defenders. The senior was able to get a quick pass to McWilliams at the top of the circle and her shot went through the net just as the horn sounded signaling the end of the game to give the Eagles the three-point victory.
 
Fields registered her first double-double of the year, leading all players with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Whiting had 13 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists, while McWilliams finished with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Morgan Ackermann scored 10 of the Eagles' 13 bench points to go with six boards and three steals.
 
Roberts was the high scorer for Flagler with 20 points.
 
The Eagles step away from basketball for a few days to focus on final exams but will return to action at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 18. That game, which is part of the Daytona Beach Shootout, has been designated Education Day and Embry-Riddle Athletics will welcome hundreds of students from area elementary schools to watch the Eagles take on Illinois-Springfield at the ICI Center.
 
"We are definitely ready for this 10-day break." Wilson commented. "We can let some injuries heal and get to work on some weaknesses we have before we play in the upcoming Daytona Beach Shootout."