FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team used strong play in the first half to notch its first win of the 2022 calendar year on Sunday. The Eagles downed Nova Southeastern (7-5, 2-3) in Sunshine State Conference play to improve to 5-6 overall and 3-2 in league play.
ERAU put together one of its best offensive performances so far this season, shooting 47.3 percent (26-55) from the field. The Eagles were led by
Eva Zaragoza who, in her first start of the season, had the highest scoring game of her Embry-Riddle career with 15 points.
Madyson Jean-Louis tallied 14 points to go with six rebounds, while
Rachel Murray chipped in season-best 10 points and five boards.
The Eagles got off to a fast start, going on an 8-0 run to start the game. NSU called a timeout to stem the tide, but the Eagles responded with a steal and a pair of made free throws to take a 10-point lead, their biggest of the half. At the 2:13 mark, Grace Gilmore scored two of her nine first-half points to trigger an NSU run that resulted in a 14-14 tie with 49 seconds left in the quarter, but a Jean-Louis jumper reclaimed the lead for the Eagles and they end the quarter up 16-14.
Both teams stepped up their shooting from long range in the second period with the Sharks shooting 4-for-10 and the Eagles going 3-for-8 from beyond the arc. But ERAU bested the home team from the field in the quarter with a 53 percent (9-of-17) shooting clip, compared to just 5-of-14 by the Sharks, to take a 37-29 advantage into the halftime break.
The start of the third quarter saw the Eagles build their lead to as many as 13 points (44-31), but the Sharks used a 15-4 run late in the frame to cut lead to three (49-46).
A layup by Murray at the 7:02 mark of the fourth ended a close to three-minute scoring drought for both teams and made the score 53-46 in favor of the Blue and Gold. McKennah Peters answered with a three-pointer to pull the Sharks within four (53-49), but they were unable to get any closer and the Eagles were unable to further pull away, resulting in the four-point margin (61-57) at the final whistle.
Peters led all players with 20 points, while Gilmore added 17 to the Sharks' effort.
The Eagles will be back at the ICI Center on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. tilt against Florida Southern.
The Embry-Riddle women's basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi.
