DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team overcame a rocky start to defeat Rollins 71-46, Wednesday at the ICI Center. Wednesday's result avenged the Eagles' loss to the Tars (11-9, 6-8) earlier in the season and improved ERAU's record to 16-4 overall and 10-3 in the Sunshine State Conference.
 
Tara Fields paced the Eagle offense, finishing just two boards shy of a double-double with game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. Nikki Tucker and Morgan Ackermann totaled 12 points apiece, and Sabrina Whiting, who did most her damage with a 6-for-6 performance from the free throw line, added nine points.
 
Miscues marked a sloppy first quarter for both teams as the Eagles turned the ball over eight times, while Rollins registered four turnovers. Rollins managed just two made field goals on 18 attempts and at the end of the first 10 minutes, the Eagles, who were 4-of-10 from the field, held a 10-6 lead.
 
An even second quarter saw each team score 13 points and at the half, the Eagles still had a four-point advantage, 23-19.
 
Rollins remained in striking distance for much of the third, coming within three points of the Eagles, but ERAU ended the period on a 13-4 run and at the start of the fourth the lead had swelled to 13 (48-35).
 
The final 10 minutes of play saw ERAU shoot 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the field and 7-of-7 from the charity stripe to put the game out of reach for good. Rollins' Denise Daniels made it an 11-point game with 8:28 left to play, but after that play, it was the Eagles who turned up the intensity on the offensive end. ERAU limited the visitors to just 23.1 percent (3-for-13) and closed out the game on a 15-4 run to seal the 25-point win.
 
"The team decided to wake up in the second half and execute the game plan and play harder and with more effort," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson noted. "Rollins is a very good, established program, and any win in this conference down the stretch is great to get! Tara Fields worked hard tonight and her teammates got her the ball with some great post feeds.  I'm especially happy with how well we shot from the free throw line.
 
"We have a really special group of young ladies who play for each other, and focus on doing whatever the team needs on an given night. The unselfish play and commitment to defense is going to help us if we can continue that mentality "
 
The Eagles go on the road for their next game, traveling to Fort Lauderdale to face Nova Southeastern at 2 p.m. on Saturday.