DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to open its 2021-22 Sunshine State Conference campaign with a road win over Rollins on Wednesday. Playing their third game at the Tars' Warden Arena in less than a week, the Eagles defeated the Tars (3-4, 0-2) 56-43 to improve their record to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in SSC play. 
 
"We're always grateful for a road win in this conference," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Wilson commented. "We didn't shoot the ball extremely well, but we did a much better job taking care of the ball tonight. We are happy with our progress defensively and hope to build on it for the next game. " 
 
Nikki Tucker led all players with 15 points to pace the Eagles. The senior was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line and finished just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards and three assists. 
 
A 41.7 percent (5-of-12) shooting clip staked the Eagles to a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, but both teams went cold on offense in the second period. Rollins and ERAU managed just six points apiece, with the Tars shooting 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from the field and the Eagles performing marginally better at 17.6 percent (3-of-17). The half concluded with the Eagles holding a 21-18 margin. 
 
The Tars won the battle in the third quarter, using 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc to edge the Eagles 16-13 and knot the score at 34-34 heading into the final frame. 
 
The Eagles took a slim lead to start the fourth quarter, but Rollins responded and at the 6:27 mark, a pair of Silvia Garcia free throws made the score 40-40 for the seventh tie of the contest. Following a brief scoring drought for both teams, Macee Sugrue knocked down her second three-pointer of the night and that basket keyed a 10-0 Eagle run that gave ERAU a 50-40 advantage with 3:12 remaining in the game. 
 
Rollins managed to close the gap to seven points (50-47), but the Eagles converted on six of eight free throws in the final 2:14 to seal the win. 
 
The Eagles will be back on the road again on Saturday when they travel to Saint Leo for a 2 p.m. tip. 
 
The 2021-22 Embry-Riddle women's basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi