DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team extended its winning streak in season-opening games to five with a decisive 80-45 defeat of Clark Atlanta (0-1) on the first day of the Bahama House Regional Crossover Challenge, Saturday at the ICI Center. Freshman Sarah Jones came off the bench to pace the Eagles in her Embry-Riddle debut, tallying a game-high 20 points to go with six rebounds and two steals. Jones is the first freshman in program history to score 20 points in her first game in an ERAU uniform.
 
The Eagles shot 44.3 percent (31-70) from the field and outrebounded the Panthers 51-34 on the way to their highest point total in a season-opener in the program's five-year history. The Blue and Gold had a balanced scoring effort as 10 of the 11 players that took the floor figured into the scoring column. Lauren Ellenberger joined Jones in double figures with 12 points, seven boards, three assists and three steals, while Sydney Jones pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, which is also an ERAU freshman record.
 
The Eagles opened the game on an 8-0 run behind back-to-back threes from Ellenberger and Nikki Tucker. ERAU shot 53.3 percent from the field and at the end of the first 10 minutes, the home team led 22-12.
 
Clark Atlanta made seven field goals to just six by the Eagles in the second period, but the Eagles' lone three-pointer was the difference in a 15-14 margin that sent ERAU into the locker room with a 37-26 advantage at the half.
 
The third quarter belonged to the Blue and Gold. The Eagle defense limited the Panthers to just four field goals and scored nine points off eight turnovers to best the visitors 26-8 and extend the lead to 63-34 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Panthers were unable to cut into the deficit as they managed just 25 percent (4-of16) shooting in the fourth quarter. On the other side of the floor, the Eagles' 6-of-11 shooting helped them continue to widen the margin and seal the victory.
 
"This was a good first game for us today," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson said. "We still have a lot of work to do and things to get better at, but the team is working hard to continue to grow and improve every day. Right now, our focus is on "us" and I liked how we picked up our intensity and discipline in the second half. "
 
The Eagles close out tournament play at noon on Sunday when they take on West Alabama.