DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team capped the 2016-17 season with a 65-50 victory over Barry, Saturday at the ICI Center. Winners of their last three games, the Eagles closed out its third season of competition at 17-9 overall.
 
Prior to the start of the game, ERAU Women's Basketball recognized seniors Mercedes Jorge and Laniere Coleman. Coleman was unable to play due to injury, but Jorge shone in her final game in an Embry-Riddle uniform, recording 11 points, nine rebounds six assists and two steals in her 36 minutes of action.
 
"I am so happy that we were able to get the win for our two seniors tonight," said ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson who got win No. 100 as a head coach on Saturday. "I can't say enough about Mercedes and Laniere and the impact they have had on our new program.  A huge thank you to them for sacrificing the opportunity to compete in postseason to help build our program. We will miss them a ton! "
 
Tara Fields was the game's high scorer as she finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for the first double-double of her career. Sabrina Whiting also scored in double digits for the Blue and Gold with 13 points, three boards and two steals.
 
The Eagles got their offense going early, opening the game on a 9-0 run. ERAU shot 70 percent (7-of-10) from the field in the first 5:20 and held a commanding 26-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
An even second frame saw each side tally 10 points as the Eagles' shooting cooled to just 27.3 percent, but the early advantage helped ERAU to a 36-19 cushion at the half.
 
The third quarter saw both the Bucs and the Eagles connect on six of their respective field goal attempts, but five Barry trips to the free throw line compared to none by the Eagles allowed the visitors to cut the lead to 12 ((49-37) heading into the fourth.
 
The Bucs outscored ERAU 5-2 in the final minutes of the third quarter and managed to extend that streak to start the fourth as a Melanie Jordan free throw and a Lauren Seyranian three made it an eight-point (49-41) game with 7:57 left to play. Following missed shots by both teams, Whiting knocked down a mid range jumper at the 6:03 mark and that keyed a 16-9 Eagle run that firmly swung the momentum back in the Eagles' favor and secured their eighth double-digit win of the year.
 
"I'm very proud of this team and thoroughly enjoyed coaching them this year," Nuxol-Wilson commented. "My assistant coaches did a great job this season and I'm truly blessed to be able to continue to build this program with this group of young ladies and staff."
The 2016-17 campaign marked Embry-Riddle's last season of provisional membership in NCAA II and the Sunshine State Conference. The Eagles, who were 14-6 against SSC foes, will be eligible to compete for conference championships and in the postseason beginning in 2017-18.