MELBOURNE, Fla. – Career best scoring and rebounding performances by Sarah Jones and Sydney Jones, respectively, were not enough to push the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team past Florida Tech as the Eagles fell to the Panthers 80-74 in Sunshine State Conference play at Florida Tech's Clemente Center on Saturday. The loss drops ERAU to 9-14 overall and 7-10 in league play.

Sarah Jones scored a career-high and game-best 25 points, while Sydney Jones recorded her second career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 13 boards. Sarah Jones also led all players with six steals, which matched her career best and Nikki Tucker and Rachel Murray tied for the game's highest rebounding total (7).

The Panthers had a tough time keeping up with the Joneses in the first quarter as Sarah, Sydney and Imani Jones combined for 19 points to stake the Blue and Gold to a 24-11 lead heading into the second period.

The Panthers were able to close the gap in the second quarter, thanks in part to six Eagle turnovers which yielded six points for Florida Tech. The Panthers outscored the Eagles 5-3 to start the second frame and closed the gap to eight points (27-19) with 7:06 left in the half. However, ERAU outscored the home team 8-0 over the next three minutes to widen the gap to 16 points (35-19) before closing out the half with an 39-28 advantage.

The third quarter saw the Eagles go scoreless from beyond the arc and connect on just 35.7 percent of their field goals and one of two free throw attempts. On the other side of the ball, the Panthers made six field goals, including three from long range, and were 5-for-5 from the free throw line which enabled Florida Tech to make it a two-point game (60-58 ERAU) heading into the fourth.

The final period of regulation featured identical field goal shooting performances as both the Eagles and the Panthers were 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the field. The Eagles reclaimed a five-point advantage to start the fourth, but Florida Tech continued to chip away at the lead and at the 6:44 mark, a Severinne Uggen three gave the Panthers their first lead of the game, 56-55.

After a two-minute stretch that featured a tie and four lead changes, the Panthers went back in front and held the lead for the next five minutes. 

With four seconds left in regulation, Tucker had her shot blocked. Tucker got the ball back on the in-bounds play and drew a foul with 1.2 seconds left on the clock. After knocking down just four of her first eight free throw attempts, Tucker drilled both shots from the charity stripe to tie the game at 69-69 and give the 128 fans in attendance an extra five minutes of basketball.

A minute and a half into overtime, Amanda Allen hit a three that broke a 71-71 tie. Sarah Jones knocked down a three of her own to pull the Eagles within two (76-74), but the Eagles were unable to add any more points to their tally and the Panthers went 4-for-6 from the free throw line late in the game to close out the win.

Allen was the leading scorer with 18 points for the Panthers who improved to 12-13 overall and 8-9 in the SSC.

The Eagles are back in the ICI Center at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday to host Saint Leo in another SSC match-up.