Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

WBB Conversation
Calan Gizelbach
80
Winner Florida Tech FT 6-13,3-9 Sunshine State
77
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 14-4,9-3 Sunshine State
Winner
Florida Tech FT
6-13,3-9 Sunshine State
80
Final
77
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU
14-4,9-3 Sunshine State
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Florida Tech FT 16 24 15 25 80
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 16 15 16 30 77

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Zach Phillips

No. 17 Women’s Basketball Drops Narrow Contest 80-77 to Florida Tech

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – No. 17 Embry-Riddle women's basketball erased a 14-point deficit on Wednesday evening against Florida Tech and took the lead in the final 90 seconds but was unable to hold on for the win. The Eagles and Panthers combined for 55 points in the fourth quarter, providing a dramatic finish to a game that featured 11 ties and nine lead changes. Embry-Riddle scored 44 points in the paint and made 15 free throws but couldn't slow down Florida Tech's Tai Roberts and Elif Dila Bayrak, who combined for 50 points. Eliana Sheplee led the Eagles in scoring for the ninth consecutive game, finishing with 25 points.

RECORDS:
Embry-Riddle: 14-4, (9-3, SSC)
Florida Tech: 6-13, (3-9, SSC)
 
GAME NOTES
  • Embry-Riddle was ranked No. 17 in the nation in the most recent WBCA Coaches' Poll (Jan. 27).
  • The Eagles still lead the all-time series 11-8 over the Panthers.
  • ERAU won the previous matchup this season against Florida Tech, 69-63, on December 31.
  • Embry-Riddle is now in 3rd place in the SSC. The Eagles are one game behind Eckerd who is 10-2 in conference play, and two games behind Nova Southeastern.

KEY PERFORMERS
Embry-Riddle Florida Tech
  • Player 1: Tai Roberts - 27 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast
  • Player 2: Elif Dila Bayrak - 23 pts, 7 reb
  • Player 3: Remingtyn Smith - 3 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast, 6 stl

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
  • Neither team was able to build up more than a 3 point lead in a quarter where there were seven ties and four lead changes. 
  • The Eagles were led by the backcourt duo of Eliana Sheplee and Kailey Turpening who combined for 11 of the team's 16 points in the first 10 minutes. Both guards played the entire first quarter.
  • ERAU had five offensive rebounds in the quarter, converting them into five second chance points, and finished 7-for-18 from the field.
  • Tai Roberts recorded nine points in the quarter, the only Panther to record more than one made field goal.
Second Quarter
  • After the back and forth opening quarter, Florida Tech started the second on a 13-2 run over a two minute stretch. Elif Dila Bayrak started the run with back-to-back 3-pointers.
  • The Panthers would finish the run up 36-22 after four consecutive points from Roberts. 
  • The Blue and Gold closed the half on a 7-2 run, cutting the deficit to single digits after a late tip-in from Anye' Staton to trail 40-31 at the break.
  • All 15 of Embry-Riddle's points in the quarter came from in the paint or the free throw line. 
  • Six different Eagles recorded a point in the quarter. Sheplee led the team with four points, finishing the first half with 10 points and four rebounds.
  • Florida Tech forced ERAU into nine first half turnovers, scoring 12 points off of the miscues.
Third Quarter
  • The third quarter opened slowly, with each team recording only one made field goal in the first four minutes.
  • Mary Lengemann would then lead an ERAU comeback as the quarter was winding down. The Eagles went on a 12-1 run, cutting the Panthers' 13-point lead to two.
  • Lengemann would score nine points and grab a pair of rebounds in the third quarter alone.
  • Unfortunately, Roberts had an answer for every Lengemann shot. Roberts had eight points in the quarter and entered the fourth having already scored 25 points.
Fourth Quarter
  • Each team would start the quarter with an and-1, making it 58-50 with eight minutes remaining. The Eagles gradually chipped away at the lead for the remainder of the game.
  • Sheplee would score five points in the next 30 seconds, making it 60-55 with 7:31 left.
  • Amanda Ogbonna would score the next five points for Florida Tech, finishing with 10 points in the quarter, after scoring just two over the first three quarters. The Panthers would lead 67-61 with five minutes remaining.
  • Five more points from Sheplee gave her 10 in the quarter, combined with a three from Alyssa Brasko tied the game at 69 in the final three minutes.
  • Embry-Riddle briefly took the lead 72-71 in the final 90 seconds after another jumper from Brasko, but the Panthers would spent much of the remaining time at the free throw line.
  • Eleven of Florida Tech's final 13 points came from the free throw line, going 13-of-18 at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
  • Turpening hit the Blue and Gold's third trey of the quarter, making it 79-77 with under 10 seconds left, but ERAU could not get another shot off.

INSIDE THE STATS
  • With 25 points tonight, Eliana Sheplee is now averaging 23.7 points over nine games since returning from Christmas break.
  • Sheplee's 22 field goal attempts were tied for the third-most by an ERAU player in program history.
  • Her 25 points and 11 rebounds marked her seventh double-double of the season. She has scored at least 20 points in six of those seven games.
  • Florida Tech's 80 points were the most ERAU has allowed since Jan. 11, 2023, also against the Panthers.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will hit the road to take on Barry on Saturday, January 31. That tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Miami Shores, Florida. Embry-Riddle earned a convincing 96-52 win over Barry on December 13 in their first matchup of the season.
 
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