DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team received career high performances from freshman Sarah Jones and junior Marisa Koopmann, but it was Eckerd that notched a win on Saturday afternoon, outlasting the Eagles 66-60 at the ICI Center. The loss puts the Eagles at 11-6 overall and 6-4 in the Sunshine State Conference, while Eckerd improves to 11-5 and 6-3 in league play.
 
Jones scored a game-high 21 points to better her previous career best of 20, which she set in her collegiate debut. Koopmann matched her single-game scoring best with 11, while Lauren Ellenberger added 13 points to go with a game-high seven assists.
 
Back-to-back threes from Koopmann and three Triton turnovers helped the Eagles to a 8-0 run to start the game. At the 7:26 mark, Ellenberger fed Nikki Tucker inside for a layup that gave the Eagles a 10-2 advantage. Following and Octavia Loll three that made the score 10-5, neither team could get anything going offensively, resulting in four minutes of scoreless basketball. The Tritons were able to end the scoring drought at the 3:01 mark to make it a three-point game, but the Blue and Gold outscored the visitors 5-2 in the final 1:31 to open up a 15-9 lead.
 
Turnovers proved to be the Eagles' undoing in the second quarter as 10 miscues led to 10 Triton points and at the half, Eckerd had overtaken ERAU 34-27.
 
The Eagles did a much better job of taking care of the basketball in the third quarter, recording just three turnovers in the frame. ERAU also shot the ball well, going 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the field and 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from long range to cut into the seven-point halftime deficit. Eckerd's 50 percent shooting clip allowed the visitors to hold onto the lead and heading into the fourth quarter, the score was 51-50 in favor of Eckerd.
 
The start of the fourth quarter saw a Koopmann layup and a Tucker three give the Eagles a 55-51 lead. Eckerd quickly reclaimed the lead and never relinquished it. The Tritons made five field goals compared to four by the Eagles, but the difference came at the free throw line. ERAU didn't have an opportunity to shoot a free throw, while the Tritons made five of their six attempts to seal the win.
 
Chelsea Johnson matched Jones' scoring output with 21 points, while Octavia Loll finished with 13 for Eckerd.
 
The Eagles have a week to prepare for their next game, which will be a road fixture against Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 26. That game is scheduled for 2 p.m.