DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Clutch late-game shooting by
Jenna Teterycz helped the Embry-Riddle women's basketball team to a 74-66 win over Palm Beach Atlantic, Wednesday at the ICI Center. With the win, the Eagles completed the season sweep of the Sailfish and improved their record to 10-12 overall 5-11 in the Sunshine State Conference.
Teterycz finished the night with 13 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter to help the Blue & Gold fight off a late surge by the Sailfish.
Madyson Jean-Louis added 12 points, while
Keturah Balabyekkubo added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Sydney Jones and
Kelli Thomas tallied 10 points apiece.
The first points of the game came in form of a Jean-Louis trey and helped the Eagles race out to a 10-2 lead. The Sailfish called an early timeout in an effort to slow the Eagles' momentum and they were able to cut the lead to three (18-15), but a bucket by Jones and free throws by Balabyekkubo made it a seven-point (22-15) game in favor of the Blue and Gold at the end of the first quarter.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the second, with the first basket coming nearly two minutes into the frame. That score was a three-pointer by
Mary Lengemann and started a 9-2 run. Trailing by 14 (31-17), the Sailfish used a stifling defense to cut into the deficit and with 2:44 left in the quarter the Eagle lead was down to five (32-27). PBAU was scoreless for the remainder of the period, however, and the Eagles used a 6-0 run, punctuated by a
Rachel Murray three with one second remaining, to reclaim a double-digit (38-27) lead at the half.
The Eagles maintained their double-digit advantage throughout the third quarter, but the Sailfish scored twice late in the quarter to narrow the gap to seven (54-47).
The Sailfish dominated the offensive glass in the fourth and their six second-chance points helped the visitors get back into contention. PBA went on a 10-4 run to start the fourth quarter and with 3:59 remaining, a Kailey Kidwell jumper gave the visitors their first lead of the game, 66-65.
Just over a minute later, following a series of missed shots by both sides, Tetererycz drained her second three of the game to reclaim the lead for ERAU. Jean-Louis came up with a big block on PBA's next possession and with 54 seconds left, the Teterycz hit another long-range shot to widen the gap to five (71-66). The Sailfish were unable to score on their next trip down the court, and after corralling the rebound, the Eagles got the ball to Teterycz who was fouled in the act of shooting. With 26 seconds left, she knocked down both free throws to help the Eagles secure the eight-point win.
Mariyah Fletcher (18 points) and Maria Benitez-Zayas (15 points) led the charge for the Sailfish who are now 9-13 overall and 5-11 in league play.
The Eagles will have seven days to prepare for their next SSC contest which will be against Florida Tech at 5:30 on Feb. 15 at the ICI Center.
The 2022-23 Embry-Riddle women's basketball season is presented by Daytona Mitsubishi.
