a hard-fought PAC South win at Rosemont College. Eastern shot a season best 47% for the game and placed five players in double figures in the win.
The host Ramblers jumped out to an early advantage and held a 24-18 lead with just over eight minutes left in the opening half when Cecelia Saunders dropped in a pair of free throws. The multi-sport star led all scorers with 19 points at the half and 25 for the game. The Eagles, however, battled right back. Eastern Senior Jacey Bray hit a long two pointer from the baseline, and first year forward Hannah Tobin took advantage of a Rambler turnover to cut the lead to a 24-22. Saunders then answered with her only three pointer of the afternoon.
Eastern then exploded on a 11-3 run with a pair of three pointers from first year guard Emily Reeser and a three from the top of the key for Raya Shores. Mandy Kuiken extended the Eastern lead to 37-34 with just over a minute to play in the half. The Ramblers then scored a pair of baskets around two Kuiken free throws to make it a 39-38 Eastern lead at the break.
Saunders led all scorers at the break, but the Eagles had great balance with Bray and Kuiken leading the way with nine points each. Eastern hit 5 of 11 three pointers and 8 of 10 from the foul line. Tobin and Bray helped the Eagles to hold a 23-14 edge on the boards going into the break.
After the Eagles opened the second half with a pair of baskets, the Ramblers responded with inside work from Katie Linder, who finished the day with 17 points and outside shooting from Andrea Boyle, who finished with 19 points, to reclaim the lead at 55-54 with 10:18 to play. Tobin then scored two straight baskets to give the Eagles the lead for good with just under 10 minutes left.
The Eagles were able to take advantage of the absence of Saunders, who left the game with foul troubles, to buckle down on defense and forge a game-high six point lead at the five minute mark. The Ramblers cut a five point Eastern lead to one with 1:03 on the clock on a driving basket from Saunders and a pair of foul shots from Boyle, but Eastern freshman Jeriah Garton hit a pair of free throws to put the Eagles back up 70-67.
Emily Reeser made four free throws down the stretch to hold off the Rambler charge. Shores and Kuiken finished with 15 for the Eagles. They were joined in double figures by Bray and Tobin, who finished with 13 points and with 11 and 8 rebounds respectively, and Reeser who ended the game with 12. The Eagles, who have won two of their last three games, return to action Monday night at Immaculata.
