DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team was unable to notch a win in the Eagles' return to the ICI Center following a two-game road swing. The Blue and Gold (8-8, 3-7 SSC) fell to Nova Southeastern (16-2, 8-2) 78-60 in Sunshine State Conference play on Wednesday.
Madyson Jean-Louis and
Rachel Murray combined for 28 of the Eagles' points in Wednesday's game with Jean-Louis tallying 17 points and Murray chipping 11 points.
Sydney Jones was a point shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 boards.
The Eagles forced a shot clock violation on the Sharks' first possession and grabbed an early 5-2 lead. With 3:50 left in the first quarter, Murray knocked down her second trey to tie the score at 8-8. McKenzie Steele answered with a three of her own for the Sharks who, with the help of 10 first-quarter points each from Steele and Maddie Frederick, went on an 11-3 run to end the quarter with a 19-11 lead.
The Sharks bested the Eagles by just four points (22-18) in the second quarter to lead by 13 (41-29) at the half but increased that margin in the third. A stout Eagle defense that forced turnovers on the first two Shark possessions sparked an offense that went on a 6-0 run to start the third period. Over the next three and a half minutes, NSU put together an 11-2 run to widen the gap to 17 (54-37) and led 63-43 heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter saw the Eagles outscore the Sharks 17-15 and with 2:28 left to play, they had reduced 23-point deficit to 15 (72-57). Both teams combined for just three made baskets in the final 2:13 with NSU hitting a pair of threes to seal the win.
The Sharks' Maddie Frederick was 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of 6 from long range to lead all scorers.
The Eagles begin the second half of their conference schedule on Saturday, hosting No. 7 Tampa at 4 p.m. at the ICI Center.
The 2022-23 Embry-Riddle women's basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi.
