ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After 140 days away from their home court, the Eckerd women's basketball team made a triumphant return to the McArthur Center, upsetting No. 10 Embry-Riddle 69-59, handing the Eagles their first conference loss of the season on Saturday afternoon.
In a tightly contested game to start, Eckerd and Embry-Riddle were scoreless through the opening two minutes of the game. Lisa Michaelsen opened the scoring at the 7:20 mark at the McArthur Center before the Eagles countered to even it at two. The Tritons had a pair of runs that were silenced by the Eagles, before back-to-back triples by Ieva Korzane closed the frame with the Tritons leading 16-6. After conceding the opening basket in the second quarter, Eckerd regained its double-digit advantage. The Tritons led by 16 near the halfway mark of the period when the Eagles began to narrow the deficit. Despite a five-point run by the Eagles at the end of the half, Eckerd led 30-20 at the break.
The Tritons were able to curb the Eagles' offense in the third quarter, limiting Embry-Riddle to its lowest scoring quarter at 13. Bucher dropped 11 points in the fourth quarter, as the Tritons fended off an Eagle rally. Embry-Riddle narrowed the Triton lead to five in the final minute, but five made free throws by Jaylen Ostenson and Korzane completed the upset, 69-59.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 69, No. 10 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 59
RECORDS: Eckerd 13-4 (8-3 SSC); Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 16-2 (10-1 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Korzane led the Tritons with 18 points. Bucher and Greta Carollo followed with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
- Korzane added five assists and two blocks. She shot 8-for-10 from the charity stripe.
- Bucher shot 3-for-8 from beyond the arc.
- Lisa Michaelsen led the defense with eight rebounds and three blocks. She added nine points.
- EC outshot ERAU 20-16 off turnovers.
- Eckerd handed the Eagles their first SSC loss of the season.
UP NEXT
The Tritons will host Saint Leo Wednesday at 5:30 PM at St. Petersburg College.
