ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A back-and-forth game between the Tritons and the Eagles saw the Eckerd women's basketball team fall to Embry-Riddle in their first of two home contests this week, 59-57, on Wednesday night.
A slow start to the game for both teams, eventually saw the Eagles strike twice for a 5-0 favor. Martyna Kowalska and Jessie Ford equalized for the Tritons at five aside. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the frame, with the Eagles leading 11-9 after the first 10 minutes. The Eagles worked back to a five-point favor at the 7:21 mark of the second quarter. A six-point Triton run finally tilted the scales in Eckerd's favor for a 19-18 lead, and a last-second layup by Sonja Schuch tied the score at 22 heading into the break.
Embry-Riddle worked to a nine-point advantage at the midpoint of the third quarter where Eckerd chipped away with a six-point run by Hannah Wentworth and Chance Bucher. Three Triton triples tied it at 35-all before Eckerd held a 38-37 advantage going into the final period. A layup by Martyna Kowalska gave Eckerd a three-point lead in the opening minute. ERAU gained back some momentum for a nine-point swing to lead 50-44 at the midway mark. A three by Bucher and a pair of free throws by Lauryn Vieira brought the Tritons within one. The teams traded baskets through the end of the game, where Vieira tied the game on another pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining. A foul in the final second gave Embry-Riddle the go-ahead free throws. Eckerd had a quality look in the final second, but the shot fell off target as the Eagles outlasted Eckerd 59-57.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Embry-Riddle 59, Eckerd 57
RECORDS: Eckerd 10-7 (5-5 SSC); Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 13-3 (8-2 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Bucher (17) and Kowalska (14) both reached double-digit scoring figures.
- Green and Ford grabbed eight boards apiece, while Vieira added four steals. Ford's eight rebounds were a career-high.
- Vieira led with seven assists, while Wentworth recorded four.
- EC out-rebounded ERAU 37-27, with 11 offensive rebounds.
- Scores were tied eight times in the contest, while leads swapped four times.
UP NEXT
Eckerd remains at home for the back half of its conference slate on Saturday, taking on Saint Leo at 2:00 PM at the McArthur Center.
