DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Eckerd women's basketball team battled through a sloppy night with a combined 48 turnovers by using a late run in the fourth quarter to create enough distance from Embry-Riddle in the final minutes to seal the win Saturday evening.
After the Eagles managed to pull ahead by two late in the third quarter, the Tritons responded with a 10-0 run over a six-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to edge in front. The Tritons then went 3-for-4 from the free throw line in the final seconds to seal the win.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 66, Embry-Riddle 60
Records: Eckerd 11-5 (6-3 SSC); Embry-Riddle 11-6 (6-4 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- Eckerd battled a slow start as Embry-Riddle began the game on an 8-0 run before Octavia Loll put Eckerd on the board two minutes into the game. Loll followed with a 3-pointer a minute later before both teams went over four minutes without scoring another basket until Zoe Richard netted a layup at the 3:00 mark. The Eagles took a 15-9 lead to end the quarter.
- Over the first 30 seconds of the quarter, Eckerd used a 5-0 run to pull within one point. Minutes later the Tritons went on a 9-0 run capped by an Abby Whiteye 3-pointer to go ahead by four with just under four minutes remaining in the half. The Tritons finished the half with a 6-0 run to take a 34-27 lead into the break.
- Eckerd pulled ahead by nine early in the second half but Embry-Riddle went on a 13-4 run to even the score at the 4:01 mark. In the final two minutes of the quarter, Embry-Riddle took a brief two-point lead but a traditional 3-point play by Chelsea Johnson gave Eckerd a 51-50 lead to end the quarter.
- A Nicole Tucker 3-pointer with 8:19 left put Embry-Riddle up by four before Chelsea Johnson quickly evened the score for Eckerd with back-to-back jumpers. Eneritz Larranaga gave EC the lead for good netting a layup with 6:23 to go. Neither team scored for the next three minutes before Johnson put in two free throws and a jumper moments later to put the Tritons up by six.
- The Eagles manage to pull within three on a 3-pointer with two minutes left but Eckerd responded with a quick Richards basket to go back up by five. Embry-Riddle pulled within three again with 22 seconds left on a Tucker layup, but the Eagles were forced to foul after the basket and Johnson made both free throws to put the game out of reach.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Johnson led Eckerd with 21 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Loll also scored in double-figures with 13 points.
- Eckerd held a plus-six advantage on the boards with Loll leading the way with five rebounds.
- The teams shot fairly even from the floor as Eckerd shot 46.3 percent while Embry-Riddle shot 48.9 percent. The Tritons struggled from beyond the arc shooting at a 25.0 percent clip while the Eagles shot at 46.4 percent and made 13 3-pointers.
- Eckerd had an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers in the win, tying their season-high. However, they forced a season-high 26 Embry-Riddle turnovers.
- Eckerd moves into a tie with Tampa for second place in the conference standings as they face the midway point of SSC play next week.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns home Wednesday hosting Tampa for a 5:30 PM start.
