a second straight win as the Eagles downed Marywood 63-60 to earn their third PAC win of the year. Senior guard Patrice Freeman scored 15 of her game-high 24 points in the second half to lead the way.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 8-2 lead and never trailed as the built their advantage up to 14 points midway through the second half. Coach Levis identified the continued improvement in guard play since Mandy Kuiken returned to the line-up for the Eagles. The Eagles committed just 12 team turnovers and forced the visiting Pacers into 16. Kuiken's five assists and three steals were critical in helping the Eagles to build and hold their lead.
The Eagles led 21-14 with six minutes to play in the first half, when Marywood's Maggie Farrell scored five straight points on a pair of inside baskets and a free throw to cut the Eastern lead to two. Sophomore guard Emily Reeser answered with a big three-pointer to boost the Eastern advantage back to 24-19. The Eagles held a 28-23 lead at the break.
Freeman had nine points at the break and Hannah Tobin had eight, as the Eagles led despite shooting just 29% from the floor. Farell led the visitors with seven points at the intermission.
After a Stephanie Fusaro free throw to open the half for the Pacers, The Eagles took advantage of two straight put-back baskets from Freeman for a quick 6-0 run and a ten point lead. The visitors chipped away with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the deficit back to 34-31 before Reeser again answered with a clutch three-point shot. Her shot from the left wing came courtesy of a perfect swing pass from Kuiken after a good kick-out from Shaneen Brown.
Freeman then hit two three-pointers to boost the Eastern advantage to twelve with twelve minutes to play. Kuiken's only three of the game came moments later and gave the Eagles their largest lead at 52-38 with eight and half to play. The Eastern team, still short-handed, began to encounter some foul trouble and Tobin and Freeman each had to play with four fouls down the stretch. The Pacers hit 12 of 15 foul shots int he second half and began to carve away at the Eastern lead.
With three and a half minutes to play, and the Pacers trailing 57-48, it looked as though the visitors were going to make a run, but Brown stopped the run with the first in a series of three blocked shots in the closing minutes. After blocking the shot, Brown grabbed the rebound and Joelle DeCarlo converted a lay-up at the other end to build the Eastern lead back to to 59-48.
The Pacers again answered with a 7-0 run on four foul shots and an Amanda Lass triple to cut the deficit to 59-55 with :33 on the clock. After burning two fouls to get into the bonus, the Pacers sent Reeser to the line for a one and one opportunity. Reeser, an infrequent visitor to the foul line, shoots nearly 90% for the year. She calmly sunk both to boost the lead back to 61-55. Marywood connected on another three-pointer, but Hannah Tobin made both ends of a one and one to secure the win.
The two-game winning streak is the first in quite some time for the Eagles, who are growing constantly under first-year coach Levis. She said of her team's effort, "Our growth in the last week has been tremendous. We had a number of people step up and make big plays today. I am very proud of the way our two seniors (Freeman and Kuiken) performed, and I felt each of our players made their mark and did what we ask them to do in this win."
Tobin scored 18 points and seven rebounds to join Freeman in double figures. Brown finished the game with five blocked shots and eight rebounds. Lass and Fusaro each had 13 for Marywood.
The Eagles return to action Monday night with a 6:00 pm home game against Immaculata University. The Eastern seniors will be honored prior to the start of that game.
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