DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A strong first-quarter performance helped the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team pick up its second Sunshine State Conference win of the season, Friday at the ICI Center. Playing in their final game of 2022, the Eagles downed Barry (6-6, 1-3) 74-65 to improve to 7-4 overall and 2-3 in the SSC.
The Eagles dominated the first 10 minutes of action, shooting 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from the field compared to just a 3-of-14 shooting effort by the Bucs. The Eagle defense forced six turnovers and scored 10 points off those miscues, but the biggest different was at the free throw line where ERAU was 9-for-13, while Bucs did not have a single free throw attempt. The game was close at the start as a pair of
Rachel Murray free throws tied the score at 7-7 at the 6:52 mark. Those free throws started a 19-0 run for the Blue and Gold and gave the home team a 24-7 advantage heading into the second frame.
The Eagles maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second quarter. But, the Bucs, who improved their shooting to 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field in the second period, put together a 6-0 spurt midway late in the quarter to cut into the Eagle lead 13 (40-27) at the half.
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Keturah Balabyekkubo three-pointer opened the scoring in the third quarter and extended the ERAU advantage to 16 (43-27). That bucket was one of three made threes in the third for the Eagles who led by as many as 22 points (55-36). At the end of the third, the score was 57-40 in favor of the home team.
Embry-Riddle did not relinquish the lead in the fourth, but Barry was able to significantly cut into the deficit. The bench played a key role in the Barry run with K'Nari Holliday and Camilla Flefil combining for 19 of the Bucs' 25 points in the fourth. Barry managed to cut the lead to seven (70-63) with 55 seconds remaining, but
Madyson Jean-Louis came up with a big block late and knocked down each of her last four free throw attempts to help seal the win for the Eagles.
Four Eagles scored in double figures, including Murray (15 pts), Balabyekkubo (14 pts), Jean-Louis (13 pts) and
Sydney Jones (11 pts). Balabyekkubo pulled down 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, while Murray recorded a game-high four steals.
Holliday led all scorers with 18 points in the Barry effort.
The Eagles, who are now in the heart of their conference schedule, will play their next game on the road on Jan. 4 against Eckerd in St. Petersburg, Florida. That contest is slated for a 5:30 p.m. start.
The 2022-23 Embry-Riddle women's basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi.
