DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A late run propelled the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team to a 60-46 Sunshine State Conference win over Florida Tech, Wednesday at the Panthers' Clemente Center. The Eagles overcame a five-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to improve to 11-5 overall and 6-3 in the SSC.
Nikki Tucker led the Eagles with a game-high 16 points, while
Lauren Ellenberger and
Sarah Jones tallied 14 points apiece.
Jessica Savage led the Blue and Gold on the boards, while Ellenberger collected seven rebounds on the night.
The Eagles dominated the Panthers in the first and fourth quarters, shooting 61.5 percent (8-of-13) in the first and 60 percent (6-of-10) in the fourth, compared to just 24 percent (6-of-25) in the second and third periods combined.
ERAU held a five-point lead early in the contest, but a Panther run made it a one-point (9-8) game, prompting ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson to call a timeout at the 5:59 mark. The timeout served its purpose as the Eagles went on a 12-0 run to take a 21-8 lead into the second quarter.
Despite a somewhat frenzied pace, the start of the second quarter produced little in the way of scoring as both teams combined for just five points in the first five minutes of the period. A scoring drought that saw the Eagles go 0-for-9 from the field, allowed the Panthers to get back in the game, cutting the lead to two points (25-23). Tucker scored five of the Eagles' seven points in the quarter, including three from the free throw line in the closing seconds that gave the Eagles a 28-25 edge at the half.
A three-pointer by Gracie Doane at the eight-minute mark in the third gave Florida Tech its first lead of the game and the Panthers outscored the Eagles 19-11 in the period to maintain the three-point lead (42-39) heading into the final frame.
Aniquah Swan's three extended the FIT advantage to five points (44-39) to start the fourth, but from that point, the Panther offense went cold. The opposite was true for the Eagles in a fourth quarter that saw their long-range shooting heat up with a 4-for-7 clip from beyond the arc. After a Florida Tech jumper tied the score at 46-46 with 4:46 left on the clock, the Eagles went on a 14-0 run to close out the game and secure their second straight win on the road.
Doane came off the bench to lead FIT with 11 points as the Panthers fall to 5-11 overall and 1-7 in league play.
The Eagles are back at home in the ICI Center on Saturday to host Eckerd for the first Hoops and Heels game. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
