DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team used a strong first-half performance to earn its third Sunshine State Conference win of the season as the Eagles topped Palm Beach Atlantic 73-37 at the ICI Center on Saturday. The Blue and Gold improved its overall record to 5-3 on the year and moved to 3-1 in the SSC, while the Sailfish are now 1-8 overall and 0-3 in league play.
 
Four individuals scored in double figures for the Eagles led by Sarah Jones who finished with a game-high 18 points and three steals. Nikki Tucker tallied 14 points, five assists and two steals, while Imani Jones and Sydney Jones scored 10 points apiece. Imani Jones also recorded the first double-double of her ERAU career with 10 rebounds off the bench. 
 
The Eagles were on fire to start the game, scoring on their first seven field goal attempts to open up a 16-4 lead on the Sailfish in the first 4:48 of the contest. PBAU managed to make it a 10-point game with 2:18 left in the first period, but the Eagles, who shot 73.3 percent from the field and 60 percent from long range in the first 10 minutes, took at 25-10 cushion into the second frame.
 
In the second quarter, the Eagles' shooting cooled to 46.7 percent (7-of-15), but ERAU forced six Sailfish turnovers and limited to the visitors to just four made field goals, and at the half the lead had swelled to 26 points (47-21).
 
The Eagle offense was not as prolific in the second half as it was in the first as they scored just 26 points in the last 20 minutes. However, the Blue and Gold was able to build the lead to as many as 40 points before closing out the 73-37 victory. 
 
The Eagles will have a short break before returning to action at 7:30 p.m. on Monday when they host Catawba at the ICI Center.