DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A solid defensive effort late in the game led the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team to a 69-66 win over Sioux Falls (2-4) on the first day of the Bahama House Shootout at the ICI Center. Trailing by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, the Eagles used big stops to drive their late-game rally, extending their record to 4-0 for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.

The Eagles scored on three of their first four trips down the floor to open a 7-0 lead. Keturah Balabyekkubo was perfect to start the contest going 2-for-2 from the field, 1-for-1 from long range and 2-2 from the free throw line and her seven first-quarter points helped the Eagles to a 17-7 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes of action.

A pair of Sioux Falls layups helped the Cougars cut the ERAU lead to six (20-14) to start the second, but back-to-back buckets by Rachel Murray and Madyson Jean-Louis reinstated the Eagles' 10-point advantage and with 4:27 left in the quarter the score was 30-19 in favor of the home team. At the 3:42 mark, the Cougars' leading scorer Megan Fannin hit a three and that basket keyed a 9-0 run that brought USF with two (30-28). With 37 seconds left in the half, Jenna Teterycz found Balabyekkubo on the wing and the junior buried her second three of the day to give the Blue & Gold a 33-28 lead at the half.

Converting on 11 of 13 free throws helped the Cougars outscore the Eagles 26-19 in the third quarter. The Eagles shot 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from the floor but connected on just one of their three free throw attempts, which allowed USF to take a 54-50 lead into the final frame.

The Eagles struggled to get going offensively in the fourth and a 6-0 run gave the Cougars a 60-50 lead with 6:07 left in the game. Murray ended the Eagles' scoring drought with her third trey of the day and a Sydney Jones free throw and buckets by Teterycz and Kelli Thomas closed the gap to 60-58.

Over the next two minutes, the Cougars were able to increase their lead to five (64-59) once again, but a drive to the basket and a free throw by Jean-Louis pulled the Eagles back within two (64-62) with 1:27 left on the clock. On the Cougars' subsequent attempt to get the ball in play, Balabyekkubo reached up and took the ball away from Dallie Hoskinson. Balabyekkubo was fouled immediately and knocked down both free throws to pull the Eagles level at 64-64.

A quick score by the Cougars and a free throw by Balabyekkubo made it 66-65 in favor of USF and the Cougars had the basketball with 37 seconds left. USF got the ball to their leading scorer Fannin at midcourt, but Murray dove to the floor to steal the ball from Fannin and on the Eagles' next possession Teterycz gave the Eagles their first lead of the quarter with a jumper with 17 seconds remaining.

On their next inbounds play, the Cougars ran 13 seconds off the clock before eventually getting the ball to Fannin. Fannin employed a ball fake to set up her shot, but the shot was blocked by Jean-Louis who was fouled in the process of securing the defensive rebound. Jean-Louis, who was 3-for-4 from the charity stripe, made good on each of her last two attempts to seal the win for ERAU.

Three Eagles finished in double figures, including Jean-Louis (14 points), Balabyekkubo (13 points) and Murray (11 points). Kelli Thomas and Kailey Turpening finished with five rebounds apiece, while Teterycz, Thomas and Turpening each dished out three assists.

The Eagles close out tournament play at 3 p.m. on Saturday when they host Northern State (S.D.) at the ICI Center.

The 2022-23 Embry-Riddle women's basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi.