JACKSON, Tenn. – In its first season as a full member of NCAA II, the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team established itself as a program to be reckoned with. Playing in the program's first NCAA II tournament, ERAU was the only Sunshine State Conference team to advance to an NCAA II regional semifinal, but the Eagles were unable to get by top-seeded Union (30-3), falling to the 14^th-ranked Bulldogs 74-59 at Union's Fred DeLay Gymnasium on Saturday.
 
"I'm very proud of our team and how they played tonight," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson said. "We didn't knock down some shots, and against a very good team like Union, you have to make shots. Threes and free throws hurt us, but overall they played their hearts out."
 
The Eagles scored the first four points of the game, but were quickly overtaken by the Bulldogs whose 5-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc staked them to a 23-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. A team accustomed to making shots from long range and the charity stripe, the Eagles connected on just one three and one free throw in the first 20 minutes, and that helped Union widen the gap to 11 points (37-26) at the half.
 
The Bulldogs maintained a double-digit advantage well into the fourth quarter and with 6:37 remaining, the lead was 15 (63-48). Following a layup each by Fields and Nikki Tucker, Whiting hit a three that pulled the Eagles within seven. However, whatever momentum the Eagles gained quickly went away when they were charged with back-to-back fouls that swung the momentum back in favor of the home team who went on to notch their 30^th win of the year.
 
Saturday's game was the final contest for the six seniors who started the program at Embry-Riddle – Allison Abbott, Hannah Carine, Tara Fields, Ashley McWilliams, Ashle Muse and Sabrina Whiting.
 
Fields achieved a career milestone with her team-high 19 points on Saturday, joining Whiting as the only two members of the Eagles' 1,000-point club. Fields, who also set an ERAU single-season scoring record in 2017-18, leaves the program with 1,007 points, while Whiting leaves as the Eagles' all-time leading scorer with 1,417 points.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of our seniors and everything they've brought to the program and what they've done in four short years," Nuxol-Wilson said. "They came into a program with nothing and built it from scratch, and with all we've been able to accomplish this year – their effort, commitment and hard work – it's just amazing. My staff and I are extremely proud and honored to have coached them for four years."
 
The Eagles set several program marks in 2017-18, including the program's first 20-win season as they finished at 24-8.

Click here for post game press conference