MONTEVALLO, Alabama - The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team opened the 2022-23 season with an emphasis on defense, clamping down on Auburn Montgomery en route to a 65-52 season-opening victory. The Eagles (1-0) improved to 6-1 all-time in season openers, holding AUM (0-1) to just 34.5% shooting from the field in the GSC/SSC Crossover Classic.
The Eagles trailed by four after the first quarter, but outscored AUM 34-17 in the middle two periods en route to the 13-point decision.
Madyson Jean-Louis paced three Eagles in double-figures with 13 points to go along with three rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The Eagles were simply dominant in the paint, outscoring AUM 30-16 down low, and out-rebounding the Warhawks 36-31.
Both teams started cold to open the first quarter, going a combined 1-for-5 to begin the game, but a mini 5-0 run by ERAU put the Eagles in front 5-2 at the 7:13 mark.
The two teams traded buckets over the middle portion of the first quarter, with neither leading by more than one possession until AUM's layup with 32 seconds left in the period gave the Warhawks a 20-16 lead, one they would carry into the second quarter.
The second 10-minute frame was a defensive clinic by the Blue and Gold as Head Coach Lisa Wilson's squad held AUM to 4-for-15 shooting, including an 0-for-4 effort from deep.Â
ERAU had its own struggles offensively to start the second, missing its first five shots before a Jean-Louis layup cut the deficit in half at 20-18, and the sophomore guard converted her second straight layup to tie the game a moment later.
Sydney Jones put the Eagles up 23-22 midway through the quarter, and Rachel Murray extended the lead with a mid-range jumper that made it 25-22 with four minutes and change to play.
The Warhawks were able to get within a point at 29-28 in the waning seconds, but Jenna Teterycz drew a foul with just 0.2 seconds on the clock, converting both her free throws to give ERAU a three-point cushion into the break.
The third quarter proved to be the key for the Eagles as they turned a three-point halftime advantage into a 13-point lead just 10 minutes later. However, the quarter started out in favor of AUM as the Warhawks scored five straight to take a brief 33-31 lead before an Eva Zaragoza layup stopped the AUM run and tied the game.
Jean-Louis and Sydney Jones went back-to-back with made layups, and Sarah Napoli's trey at the 5:04 mark was the first of two straight Eagle three-pointers, followed by Jean-Louis' a few minutes later and suddenly the Eagle lead was 43-35.
ERAU put an exclamation on the third quarter with Zaragoza's triple with 34 seconds left, giving the Eagles a 50-37 lead after three.
In the fourth quarter, after surviving a mini AUM run to start the period, Embry-Riddle started to pull away, growing the advantage to 59-44 midway through the quarter, but it was Napoli's two consecutive three-pointers to give ERAU a 20-point lead at 65-45 that put the game away for the Blue and Gold.
Murray had 11 points for ERAU, joining Jean-Louis in double-digits along with Jones who finished with 10 points and six boards. Keturah Balabyekkubo scored six points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out four assists, and registered three steals.
Kailey Turpening, Mary Lengemann and Ashley Woodfin all made their collegiate debuts in the ERAU victory.
The Eagles conclude the GSC/SSC Crossover Classic tomorrow with a 3 p.m. tilt against host Montevallo.
The 2022-23Â Embry-Riddle Women's Basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi.
