MONTEVALLO, Ala. – A career-high 15 points from
Keturah Balabyekkubo helped the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team hang on to beat Montevallo 53-50 in the Eagles' final game of the GSC/SSC Crossover Classic. It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The Blue and Gold (2-0) possessed a commanding 51-38 lead in the fourth quarter, but a 12-0 run by the Falcons (0-2) brought the Eagles' lead down to just a single point with 29 seconds remaining. However, a steal and two successful free throws from
Rachel Murray in the final 10 ticks allowed Embry-Riddle to come away with the victory.
The Eagles thrived inside the paint as Embry-Riddle scored nearly half of the team's points (26) in that area compared to just 12 for Montevallo. Additionally, the Eagles outrebounded the Falcons 40-26.
Embry-Riddle came out rusty in the opening quarter by missing its first four shots and turning the ball over twice to trail 4-0 just under four minutes in. Murray then scored five points for the Eagles to gain a 5-4 advantage. Montevallo reclaimed the lead, but Embry-Riddle used a 6-0 spurt to end the first quarter up 13-11.
After the Falcons scored the first bucket of the second period, the Eagles set the tone from there on out. A 9-0 run, with four points from Balabyekkubo, propelled ERAU out to a 22-13 lead with 6:08 left. Back-to-back jumpers from
Sydney Jones and
Madyson Jean-Louis sent Embry-Riddle into the intermission up 26-19.
Yet again, the Eagles started the quarter strong with a pair of made shots – a layup by Balabyekkubo and a three-pointer from Murray. Montevallo responded with two consecutive three-point shots to trim ERAU's lead to three points at 31-28. With 4:38 remaining, Embry-Riddle went 4-for-5 from the floor with four made free throws to push the lead to 44-33.
Up 51-38 with 5:29 left in the fourth, the Falcons utilized a 10-0 scoring streak to cut the Eagles' advantage to one point. Murray forced a turnover and made a pair of free throws to increase the lead to 53-50 with seven seconds left. Montevallo had one more shot, but the Falcons missed the jumper, allowing Embry-Riddle to grab its second win of the season. It's the seventh time in eight years the program started the season 2-0.
Balabyekkubo led the squad with 15 points while Jean-Louis (13) and Murray (12) also reached double figures. Additionally, Jones notched 10 rebounds.
The Eagles begin Sunshine State Conference play next weekend with a trip to Winter Park, Florida, to face Rollins on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.
The 2022-23 Embry-Riddle Women's Basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi.
