DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's basketball team survived a late rally by Saint Leo to edge the Lions 60-57 in the Eagles' final home game of 2024 on Saturday. The Eagles, ranked No. 8 in the latest D2CSC Media Poll and receiving votes in the WBCA Coaches' Poll, are off to the best start in program history going unbeaten in the first nine games of their 10th anniversary campaign.
 
RECORDS
Embry-Riddle: 9-0, 4-0 SSC
Saint Leo: 5-4, 1-3 SSC
 
GAME SUMMARY
• The contest featured a dramatic comeback by Saint Leo, who erased a 14-point deficit in the second half.
• Saturday's 60 points marked the Eagles' lowest scoring output of the season
• Embry-Riddle is one of only two teams in the SSC with an unblemished league record.
• The game was a defensive battle with the Eagles managing just 39.3 percent (22-of-56) from the field and Saint Leo going 20-of-56 (35.7%).
• All nine players who took the court for the Blue and Gold got into the scoring column with the bench contributing 23 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
• Saint Leo got off to a fast start, taking a brief four-point (6-2) lead.
• Embry-Riddle responded with a balanced attack, highlighted by early contributions from Madyson Jean-Louis and Anye' Staton.
• Jenna Teterycz hit a three to tie the score a 11-11 and the Eagles used a 13-4 run to overtake the Lions 19-16 at the end of the first set.
 
Second Quarter
• Embry-Riddle forced six Saint Leo turnovers and bested the Lions 10-5 on the boards to limit the visitors to just nine points.
• The score was tied at 20-20 at the 7:24 mark, but the Eagles went on a 14-2 run on the way to a 34-25 lead at the half.
 
Third Quarter
• A strong start to the third quarter helped the Eagles build the lead to 14 points (41-27).
• A series of fouls called against the Eagles helped the Lions cut the lead to nine points (43-34).
• The only point in the last 5:09 of the third was a Saint Leo free throw.
• Embry-Riddle led 43-35 heading into the fourth.
 
Fourth Quarter
• Most of the game's offense came in the fourth quarter where the teams combined for 39 points.
• Anye' Staton hit a layup to give the Eagles a 10-point (47-37) lead with 8:39 remaining
• The Lions closed the gap to six (47-41) over the next minute.
• With the Eagles leading 51-43, the Lions got back-to-back threes from Taydra Simpson to make it a two-point (51-49) game with 5:09 left to play.
• Jumoke Adaramoye gave Saint Leo their first lead since the first quarter and Alanis Diaz' layup made it 55-51 in favor of the visitors.
• Over the next two minutes, Jean-Louis hit two layups and three free throws to reclaim a one-point (56-55) lead for the Eagles with 51 seconds left.
• Kailey Turpening converted on all four of her free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the win.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
Embry-Riddle
Madyson Jean-Louis: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 6-of-8 free throws.
Anye' Staton: 12 points, 9 rebounds
Kailey Turpening: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists.
 
Saint Leo
Vanessa McManus: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists.
Alanis Diaz: 13 points, 6 rebounds.
Mikaela Hall: 8 points, 8 rebounds.
 
NEXT UP
The Eagles travel to Las Vegas to compete in the Holiday Hoops Classic where they will face Lubbock Christian at 9 a.m. (PST) on Dec. 19.